Our helpguide on residential taxes
Deadlines for taxe foncière and taxe d'habitation are in October and November. We explain what, when and how to pay
LIVING in France, or owning a property here, brings taxation responsibilities - and the bills for the two main residential taxes are on their way.
The taxe foncière is a tax on property, both residential and commercial, and is used to provide your local services.
It is usually paid by whoever owns the building on January 1, and the deadline is in mid-October.
The taxe d’habitation also goes towards the various services that local bodies provide to residents. You are liable if, on January 1, you live in accommodation either as an owner, tenant or free.
The average bill for this year’s two residential taxes has increased by 6.1% - and the exact amounts to be paid depend on the value of your home and where you live.
The most expensive towns this year are Nimes and Montpellier, where the average house will pay about €1,150 in taxe d’habitation and about €1,200 in taxe foncière.
Paris is among the cheapest places, with an average taxe d’habitation bill of €395 and a taxe foncière bill of €552.
The Connexion publishes a comprehensive four-page helpguide in English on residential taxes, newly updated for October 2009, which explains how they are calculated, a number of available exemptions and reductions (including this year's income thresholds), and how and when you need to pay.
The Residential Taxes guide is available as an instant PDF download, priced €5, from this link.
