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Phone at the wheel: drivers now face licence suspension anywhere in France
The measure was previously introduced by individual prefectures
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Why one in three people in France admit to dumping rubbish illegally
But 98% tell poll they dispose of it correctly
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France grants long-awaited protection to two threatened birds
Breaking the rules can be punished by up to three years in prison and a €150,000 fine
Property tax cuts outlined
Details of reductions to the taxe d’habitation which will exempt around 17 million households (80% of the population) by 2020 have been released.
The tax is paid by anyone with a French home – tenants, owner-occupiers and second home owners – apart from some older people on low incomes.
Eligibility for new reductions will be based on revenu fiscal de référence (roughly, net taxable income). For single people the ceiling to benefit is €27,000 or less; for childless couples €43,000, then €6,000 each for the first and second child, and €12,000 each from the third.
A one-third cut in people’s tax is planned for 2018, then another third in 2019 and a final one in 2020 exempting those concerned completely by then.
It will mean an eventual saving of on average €550 per household (the typical bill of those who will qualify).
Scrapping the tax for most households was a key pledge of President Macron. It is a key fundraising mechanism for regional and local government and national government will compensate local authorities.
