Is there an age exemption for French ‘taxe foncière’?

I was 75 in January 2019 and because my income is small, I thought I would have total exemption from the taxe foncière . However, I received a bill for around €1,000. This was lower than previous years but I was expecting zero. What could the reason be? D.P.

Hugh MacDonald
Published Last updated

Exemption for the taxe foncière for a given year is based on age and your income for the year two years before.

To be exempt in 2020, your net annual income (revenu fiscal de référence) for a single person has to be below €11,098, or €17,024 for a couple, as well as you being aged 75 or more.

If your income is within the limits (these would have been slightly less for the tax payable in autumn 2019), you should write to your tax office (service des impôts des particuliers) and make the point that you were over the age of 75 as at January 1 and that you claim the exoneration and a refund for the tax you paid.

If they disagree, they should explain why.

Reader's query answered byHugh MacDonald

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hugh macdonald money pensions / pensioners practical your questions q&a tax exemption taxe fonciere local taxes

hugh macdonald money pensions / pensioners your questions q&a tax exemption taxe fonciere local taxes