Nine changes for residents in France in June 2022

A new month brings new changes in France: we summarise key events to note in June. There is also a public holiday on Whit Monday (June 6), although some businesses may choose to continue working.

1. Tax declaration deadlines approach for some departments

Residents of French departments number 54 onwards have until June 8 to complete their online declarations for income tax.

Read more: What do you risk if you are late with your French tax declaration?

Read more: French income tax declaration deadline looms - seven rules explained

The deadlines for other departments and non residents fell on May 24 and May 31.

You can find more information and advice on filling in your income tax return in our Income Tax in France guide, priced at €14.90.

2. France's legislative elections take place

France’s legislative elections, sometimes called the ‘third round’ of the presidential election, will take place on June 12 and June 19.

French citizens will vote for MPs (députés) to represent their area, who will take office on June 28.

The result of this election is by no means a given, as La France Insoumise’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon – who came third in the first round of the presidential vote – has called for the public to give him a chance at being appointed as prime minister by giving candidates affiliated to him a parliamentary majority.

The president decides who is prime minister, but often appoints someone from the majority in the Assemblée nationale if their own party does not achieve a majority.

Read more: United Left, Macron rebrand: Why French politics is in a state of flux

Read more: How can Mélenchon become French prime minister and how would it work?

3. Some investment quotes to become more transparent

Insurance companies and banks will from June 1 be obliged to display tables reflecting the admin costs that they apply to certain accounts and policies on their websites.

This will be the case for assurance vie (life assurance) policies and plans d’épargne retraite (PER) retirement savings plans.

Account admin or management costs (frais de gestion) are recurring fees totalling around 0.5-1% of the sum paid to the insurer or bank. The money is taken off to pay for the company’s operational activities with regards to the policy.

This new measure, first suggested by Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, aims to improve the transparency of life insurance and PER tariffs.

4. Improvements to internet shopper protections

From June 1, people and companies selling products online will have to provide more detailed information to their customers because of an EU directive.

Sellers are now subject to 15 different obligations, as compared to six previously.

Many of these requirements relate to protecting consumers when they carry out international purchases.

5. Polluting vehicles banned from driving around Paris

Beginning in June, drivers whose vehicles have a Crit'Air 4 rating will not be able to travel through low emission zones (zones à faibles émissions or ZFE) in Paris and its region at certain times.

From 08:00 until 20:00 on weekdays, vehicles with diesel engines manufactured before 2006, and those with petrol engines which date further back than 1997 will be banned.

This rule remains in place at all times with regards to buses and lorries, and is punishable by a €68 fine.

Read more:Crit’Air: Paris limits access of certain cars as pollution spikes

6. Loans will become more accessible for recovering cancer patients

People who have had cancer or hepatitis C in the past will begin to find it easier to secure property loans from this month as a law adopted in February comes into effect.

This will enable them to obtain a loan under the same conditions as other borrowers who have not had the same health conditions, from five years after they enter into remission.

The new law will also remove the requirement obliging former cancer and hepatitis patients to fill in a health questionnaire for loans of less than €200,000.

7. €38 ticket resto maximum spend to come to an end

Workers have until June 30 to use up old ticket resto luncheon vouchers with a spend of up to €38 per day, even on weekends and public holidays.

This measure was first introduced in June 2020 to boost diner numbers in restaurants following the disruption of the first Covid lockdown, and was then prolonged twice.

This has enabled the state to “continue supporting the restaurant sector, whose activity remains impacted by the pandemic and restrictions taken to fight it”.

8. Bank account opening procedure to be simplified

From June 13, people who have requested to open a bank account but not heard back within 15 days will be able to turn directly to the Banque de France.

They should send proof of their request to the bank(s) where they tried to open an account, which will normally include a recorded delivery letter.

Banque de France will then select a bank near your home, and this establishment will then have three days in which to tell the applicant what documents they need to produce.

This bank will not be obliged to open an account for the person in question, but if they do reject the application they will have to explain their decision to Banque de France.

This new measure will be available to all residents of France or in another EU member state, as well as French people living abroad.

Everyone who is resident in France has the right to open a bank account.

9. End of the trêve hivernale

June 1 marks the end of France's trêve hivernale winter evictions ban, which had been extended from April 1.

The end of the ban means that landlords can once again require tenants to leave their house or flat for reasons such as failing to pay rent. It is estimated that around 30,000 households could now be at risk of eviction.

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