Extra care needed over tax declarations due to bug

Half a million ‘pre-filled’ tax forms have in fact not been properly filled in following a computer bug at the Finance Ministry.

Published Modified

Those concerned are being warned to take extra care when filling out their declarations for 2017 income later this month (or next month).

For people who declare online, the problem should now have been resolved so the incomes are pre-filled on the internet version of their form, but those still declaring on paper could be affected when they come to use the incomplete forms that will shortly be arriving in the post.

The missing incomes are understood to relate to French pensions, which along with salaried work in France are among the known income types that are usually inserted automatically by the authorities (though you are still supposed to double check).

The ministry says it will be sending notes in the post reminding people to make sure they fill in the income themselves.

The CGT union said the error was unacceptable because some people may send back their forms without looking at them closely and then get fines for non-declaration because they did not spot the mistake.

For more information on income declarations for 2017 income, Our French Income Tax 2018 guide is now available for order at this link or from selected newsagents, at €12.50 (+P&P for printed copies posted to your home).

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