Your Questions

Do you have a question about life in France? Email our man in the know, Oliver Rowland, at news@connexionfrance.com

Why can I not cancel health policy with a month’s notice?

My health mutuelle provider says I cannot cancel with a month’s notice but need to wait until the anniversary date. Do mutuelles not come under the same rules as other contracts which you can cancel with a month’s notice? J.G.

I turned 65 in 2018, do I pay for part of the year?

I turned 65 in July last year. How do I show the taxman that for the first half of the year my income should be assessed for social charges but not the second half? D.L.

Taxed in both UK and France

In recent months I received a French tax demand, which I paid, but my friends say it cannot be right as my state pension and work pension are taxed at source in the UK. Are the French tax authorities within their rights to tax me as well? I.B.

Charges due on French AV withdrawals

We have assurance vie contracts we have held for nine years. If we start to withdraw €9,200 per year as a couple, how much will be due in social charges and tax? I.S.

Is en viager sale advisable?

I am considering selling my house en viager (to receive a lump sum and monthly payments until my death) but I’m not sure if it is safe or advisable. Should I speak to a notaire for advice and, if so, are some more specialised in this? Equally for estate agents? D.T.

At-source tax in first year of move

I will be moving to France soon. My income is pensions from the UK. Do I have to do anything in relation to the new at-source income tax in my first year? G.V.

Social charge exemption rejected

I am a British pensioner, resident in France. I requested for social charges of 17.2% applied to my investment income to be removed on the grounds that my healthcare is covered by the UK under an S1. This has been rejected by my tax office with no reason given. I would appreciate your advice as to how to contest this. R.C.

Tax at source for new businesses in France

I started my artisan business in 2018 - how will this work with the tax at-source system which started this year? F.I

Does French nationality help wife’s residency right

I have taken French nationality but my wife, who is also British, has not. Does my double nationality simplify things to make sure she can stay in France as well? G.M.

I have found a buyer for my French home - what's next?

We are selling up in France to return to the UK and have found a buyer. At what stage do we receive the money? What fees and taxes are due? Should we involve an English solicitor?

French home boundaries causes sale issue

We had a geometric survey advising boundary shifts but cannot get our mairie, which owns the adjoining land, to sign them off, so we cannot sell our house. What can we do? P.M.

Chômage changes help self-employed in France

As an independent worker in France, I believe I do not have any right to unemployment benefit, but that this is changing. When will it happen and how will it work? Is it definite? How will the amount we receive be worked out? J.S.

Tax on materials

I am an artisan micro-entrepreneur. I bill customers for labour and materials. I pay tax via the libératoire method quarterly. Do I have to declare the amount I am paid for the materials?

Do I have to put up with eyesore mast?

My neighbour has put up a radio mast that is an eyesore – do I have to put up with it? G.F.

Can I open a boîte postale from outside France?

We would like to open a boîte postale in France as a temporary forwarding address to give to the Royal Mail in the UK as part of our move to France. We know the town we want to be in but will be renting while we house-hunt in the area. Do you have to actually visit a French post office to sign up for this? I tried to find out on the La Poste website but no luck. R.L.

How can I know the real number of protestors?

Why is there often a difference in protestor numbers between what authorities and organisers say?

How can I find out route of gilets protest?

I am supposed to be coming to Paris from the UK on the weekend of February 15-18 but I am now unsure what to do because of the yellow vest protests. However I have just read your article which says that the numbers were fewer this weekend and also that they followed a prearranged route. What was this route and how would it be possible to find out that route in the future?

Can I have holidays in the first year of my contract?

My mother, British and aged 51, has just been offered a permanent job in France (CDI), which is great. However, she has been told she is not entitled to any paid holiday for the first 12 months of employment. She is expected to work all 52 weeks of the year. Is this legal? Is there not an EU law that prevents this? Have other people experienced the same? H.T.

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