French Property Tax

When buying in France, get to know two local taxes in France which you will have to pay if you buy a property in france. If the property is sold during the year, the seller and the buyer often agree to share the tax.

Taxe d’habitation is a residential tax (or rates) and is paid by the occupier of the property.
The taxe d’habitation is:

• payable to your local council for the provision of council services (e.g roads and rubbish men e.t.c)
• based on the notional rental value of your property; this rate is often substantially lower than the market rental value
• payable on January 1 by the person who was the occupier at that date
• payable if a home it is furnished and supplied with water and electricity
• is calculated by multiplying the net rental value by a locally fixed tax rate
• calculated on the surface area of the house or apartment, the construction and amenities
• paid in one lump sum or in ten monthly installments from a French bank account
  exempt for over 60s, if the property is incapable of occupation, and for low income households
  

Another property tax is the taxe foncière, which is paid by the owners of a property or land.
The tax foncière is:

• a land tax: this tax is even payable on un-built land
• calculated by reference to the notional rental value of the premises
• reduced accordingly for second homes
• exempt for two years for newly built homes
• TVA free
• payable unless it is being used for agricultural purposes.

Please check the information section on the Homehunts website for more details on french property taxes

http://www.home-hunts.com/