Rubber stamp for partners' equality

GOVERNMENT journal the Bulletin Officiel des Impôts has confirmed equal status of people in France with British civil partnerships to French pacs partners relating to inheritance, donations and income tax.

The rules apply since August 2007, so reimbursements are due for those who have paid inheritance or donation tax in this period. This date corresponds to the one when French pacs partners first won these rights, which previously only applied to married people.

The ruling also means that from this spring, when people declare their income for 2009, civil partners will be able to make joint income declarations, like married or pacsed people.

The change comes at the end of a struggle by civil partners for equal rights in France. Previously if a civil partner died then his or her partner was treated as a "stranger" to them for tax purposes, meaning 60% inheritance tax instead of none.

Connexion first highlighted the inequality in 2008, and pointed out that it contrasted to the UK's policy of complete recognition of the pacs.

The civil partnership is similar to the pacs apart from the fact it is only for same-sex couples.

The French pacs is also available to heterosexual couples, with whom it has proved popular as a "halfway house" between the formality of marriage and the informality of living together "en concubinage".

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