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Income Tax in France

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Inheritance Law and Wills in France

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World corruption: France better than US but worse than UK

High-level public figures in France have a ‘feeling of impunity’, the ranking says

Best value 2026 Michelin French restaurants: Are there any near you?

Four regions did especially well on this year’s Bib Gourmand restaurant list

Senators examine proposal to guarantee access to cash machines in rural areas of France

Some 18.6% of French communes had access to at least one local ATM in 2024

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France tightens reimbursement rules for flight delays or cancellations

New measures include mandatory mediation and new claim procedures

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Many French supermarket loyalty card points expire soon – see dates here

Most points disappear between December and March

Why water bills in France are set to rise

Part of the bill that pays for water cleaning and treatment is set to increase

Shop donations: Pays de la Loire and Corsica are France’s most generous regions

Almost €15 million was raised in 2025 via ‘round up’ donations at checkouts

Repayable-on-death equity release loans open again to non-EU retirees

Products have recently started being offered by bank group again after it paused them in 2019

France public transport fares should double, claims report to Transport Ministry

French passenger fares currently cover less than a fifth of the total service cost

French village creates new ‘no door-to-door sales’ sticker

Authorities have also brought in heavy sanctions for unwanted sales approaches

Financial mistakes newcomers to France make – and how to avoid them

Many wrongly assume that the rules broadly mirror those of their home country

French bank clients hit by double debits after computer bug

Problem affects thousands across several banking chains

Euro reaches strongest exchange rate against the US dollar in five years

Strong euro spurs economic debate within the eurozone and in France

Income tax bands in France for declarations in 2026 (for 2025 income)

The thresholds are usually updated each year in line with inflation

Interest rate for Livret A savings accounts in France to drop from February 2026

Lower inflation rate causes decrease

Good news as lower electricity bills confirmed in France

The change is not a ‘revolution’ but will give some purchasing power back, minister says

2025 world economy rankings: France classed above the UK and US

France’s low inflation rate helped it beat many other nations

French tax payment due for nine million households. Will you get it?

Payouts average €600 and will soon be made directly to registered bank accounts

Interest payment dates for French tax-free savings accounts

Livret A savings accounts saw interest rates fall throughout year

French minimum wage to increase in January 2026

The ‘Smic’ will not be increased above legal minimum

Money, taxes, pensions: What's new in France in 2026

New money-saving budget, allowances, income tax freeze and retirement age

Dates 2026: Family allowance payments and other French benefits

The payment date varies if it falls on a weekend

France’s end-of-year tips: how much to give firefighters, cleaners, and waste collectors

Informal tips known as ‘étrennes’ are widespread practice

Christmas gifts: from what sum must they be declared to French tax office

The process for declaration is moving fully online from January 2026

Why up to 200,000 households in France risk paying tax – or paying more – in 2026

Lack of a 2026 full budget has many implications

French government drops controversial VAT reforms for self-employed workers

Proposals will not be included in future budget discussions and current levels will remain in place

Six financial checks that every expat in France should do each January

A small amount of organisation now can save considerable stress later

French officials publish reminder on when gifts require formal declaration

New online system will be in place from January 2026

Major IT failure hits French banks and La Poste

Personal online spaces and apps have been down since 6am

France’s Christmas bonus: who receives it, and how much is it in 2025?

Around two million households are eligible for one-off ‘prime de Noël’ payment

Can adult children be held responsible for the debts of their parents in France?

If the mother or father has died the situation can be complex

Why your home insurance in France is likely to increase

Climate change-related claims cost more than €5 billion last year

Buyer must compensate sellers after trying to change bid for French apartment

Court orders the buyer to pay compensation to sellers

How long does it take to open a French bank account?

Opening a French bank account is quicker than you think

High-income top-up tax deadline for French households is December 15

Wealthy households must make advance payment before final amounts calculated via spring tax return

French home energy bills to rise in 2026

Both household electricity and gas bills will increase

France’s key tax deadlines for December

Second-home owners must pay their taxe d’habitation this month

France ranks second in EU for gender equality

The index tracks key areas to ‘compare how inequalities affect our lives’

Reduce temperature of French home by one degree to save money and even win gifts

One of several ways to reduce electricity usage – and bills – this winter

What level of wealth is needed to be considered rich in France?

Opinions differ over whether calculations should refer to income only, or total wealth

French minimum wage: experts advise annual update for 2026 remain tied to inflation rate

1.4% rise expected to outstrip household cost increase – how does it compare to other countries?

Many French bank transfers delayed for four days over Christmas

European-wide closure of systems mean payments will not go through until December 28 at the earliest

Last few days remaining to modify 2025 tax declaration online in France

December 3 closing date for online correction service

Is it easy to switch bank accounts in France?

Certain savings accounts cannot be moved between banks

UK 2025 Autumn Budget: limit on state pension contributions to impact Britons in France

Britons abroad will need to have lived or worked in UK for 10 years and be limited to more expensive ‘class 3’ contributions

What are the rules on paying in cash in France?

There are limits and exceptions depending on your tax status and the kind of transaction

Save money on electricity in France with group purchase deal

Two-year fixed-rate offer available until December 20

New online declarations for taxable gifts in France: what changes?

Dedicated website will replace paper declarations and those made via the tax site

Crédit Agricole customers in France urged to check accounts after payment issues

Some scheduled payments did not leave customer accounts

Year-end financial planning in France: key considerations for December

Advice on taking stock of your financial position and thinking about any last-minute actions

My French pensions never go up. How can I check if they are correct?

Increases will not be more than the average rise in salaries

Graph: French inflation levels among lowest in Europe

Annual inflation of 0.8% is far below Germany (2.3%) and UK (3.6%)

Online tool reveals how your salary measures up in France

Are you well paid or not compared to everyone else? A new tool can tell you

Tips to avoid financial scams in France

From fake bank advisors to ‘too good to be true’ offers, this is how to avoid getting caught out

Tips on how to save money on train trips in France

Record passengers and fewer trains mean finding the best rates is more of a challenge

Why your parcels may soon become more expensive in France

End of customs exemptions for small parcels imminent as EU addresses overseas e-commerce firms

‘Death tax’ bank fees now capped in France

Certain cases exempt from charges for closing a deceased individual’s account

What is considered a ‘modest income’ in France?

12.6% of people were in this category in 2021, according to recent research

Researchers estimate how much a retiree needs to ‘live decently’ in France

The amount should cover basics and a social life, the study says

Assurance vie beneficiary clauses: clear wording is everything

Increasing cases where heirs are left frustrated due to problems with this detail

French second homes: How capital gains tax abatement works (2025)

The tax exemption at sale depends on the time elapsed since the property was purchased

French second homes: tax-exemption time for capital gains may be reduced

MPs voted the bill through in a bid to improve housing market in high-demand areas

Can I take my small pot pension from the UK early while living in France?

The UK has specific rules relating to pensions worth no more than €10,000

Stepchildren: French MPs approve higher inheritance tax allowance

The pre-tax allowance is greater than before, but there are conditions

MPs vote to replace France’s property wealth tax with ‘unproductive wealth’ levy

France’s proposed ‘unproductive wealth’ tax - part of ongoing 2026 budget talks - would cover assets such as art, jewellery and some assurance vie policies

Dordogne electricity broker claims 8% savings for most clients

Service is free for customers – company earns commission from suppliers

Interview: Gabriel Zucman on France’s ‘Zucman tax’

Economist says idea is not to make the rich pay more than the rest of the population but rather to ensure they cannot pay less

Rules around bank overdrafts to be tightened in France

It will be more challenging for new account holders to obtain large overdrafts

Image: new €2 coin in France features Notre-Dame cathedral

20 million of the special coins will come into circulation in the coming weeks

Millions in France to see two tax debits from bank account today

One payment relates to property tax and the other to income tax

Card payments overtake use of cash in France

Cash use is declining where there are other payment alternatives

What are the proposed changes to child allowance rules in France?

Over two million families could see a change to their allocations familiales if measure is approved

Brittany island’s only ATM shuts, limiting cash access for residents

Thousands of cashpoints have closed in recent years across France

Errors to avoid when making French bank transfer after October 9

New regulation aims to help people avoid losing money to scams or incorrect details

Receive French tax credits? If so it is good to update your information

Annual change can disrupt split-payment system used by authorities