Taxe d'habitation deadline looming
First deadline for payment is Wednesday, November 15 - and penalties rise quickly for anyone who misses the deadline
The bill for the taxe d'habitation local property tax has probably already dropped into your letterbox - and, unless you make monthly payments, the deadline for payment for main properties in France is looming.
The year's taxe d’habitation bill is payable by whoever was living in a property on January 1 of that year, though there are exemptions and deductions dependent on age and income.
As indicated on the service-public.fr website, anyone who settles the full amount by 'physical means' (cheque, in cash - up to a limit of €300 - or Titre Interbancaire de Paiement) will normally have until Wednesday, November 15, to make payment.
Those who make other forms of internet payment have until Monday, November 20 - payments in this case will be taken from November 27. Meanwhile, bills for second homes and some primary residences may be sent out up to the end of November, in which case the deadline is December 15.
If you pay your taxe d'habitation monthly, you should have received a letter advising you of the monthly payments and when they will be taken from your nominated account.
The bottom line of the taxe d'habitation bill habitually includes the €138 contribution à l'audiovisuel public TV licence payment.
It is important that anyone struggling to make the payment by the deadline contacts their local tax office as soon as possible.
Penalties for non-payment increase rapidly. Any bill not paid on time without prior arrangement automatically triggers a late payment charge of an additional 10% of the bill. If it is not paid within 30 days of the bill being sent, the penalty rises to 40% of the amount of the bill.
But you can request a period of grace, either by visiting or calling your local tax office, or by sending a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. You need to be able to explain your reasons for making the request and prove why you need the extra time to make payment.
For more information about local taxes, click here to order Connexion's Local Taxes Helpguide, available instantly as a pdf document
