For the latest in-depth analysis, subscribe to our news service at France Insider.

If you require advice and assistance with the purchase of French property and moving to France, then take a look at the France Insider Property Clinic.

Guide to French Income Tax

5. Calculating Your French Income Tax Liability

5.3. Tax Allowances

5.3.1 Definitions

There are a number of tax breaks households may be able to use to reduce their liability to French income tax. There are also allowances that may be applied automatically, depending on household circumstances.

Tax breaks per se may take the form of either tax relief (réduction d’impôt), or a tax credit (crédit d’impôt).

A réduction d’impôt offers an allowance against the amount of income tax payable, whilst a crédit d’impôt is a payment to you by the tax authority.

Accordingly, in such circumstances, if are eligible to receive a greater sum than you actually pay in tax, then the tax authority will send you a cheque for the balance.

A tax credit will, therefore, be important to you, even though you may pay little or no income tax in France.

The main tax allowances or reductions available are shown below. We consider tax credits in the next page.

5.3.2. Salaries, Business Earnings and Pensions

There is a general abatement of 10% for professional costs in relation to salaries and business earnings (with the régime réel) up to a maximum of €14,171 (2023 income for 2024). This abatement is calculated after the deduction of social security contributions.The minimum abatement is €495.

Alternatively, and within agreed limits, it is possible to elect to deduct actual professional costs, including costs of travel to work, meals, tools and clothing. You will need to retain invoices and there are rules that govern the deductibility of these costs. There can be a considerable advantage in using this option but accountancy support will be required.

If your pension is taxed in France (and all pensions are liable other than government service pensions), there is a general 10% abatement, with a minimum of €495 and a ceiling of €4,321 (2023 income). The allowance is per taxpayer, although the maximum is per fiscal household. The allowance is increased each year in line with inflation.

In addition to the 10% allowance, for those aged over 65 years on 1st January of the tax year (so by 31st Dec 2023 for 2024 taxes), a fixed sum is deducted from your total net income before you become liable to income tax.

These same deductions apply to someone who suffers from a level of disability of at least 40%, irrespective of age, although the age and invalidity allowances are not cumulative.

With total net income per household of:

Less than €17,200 the deduction is €2,746;
Between €17,200 and less than €27,670 the deduction is €1,373;
With a net income €27,670+ no deduction is available.

The figures are for 2023 income taxed in 2024.

These allowances are doubled for a couple each aged over 65 years.

5.3.3. Mortgage Tax Relief

Mortgage tax relief has been abolished since 2011, although existing recipients will continue to obtain the relief. These notes only apply to such recipients.

Mortgage tax relief is granted on the purchase or construction of a main home, over the first 5 years of the loan.

The relief is granted at the rate of 40% of interest incurred in the first year, followed by 20% of interest paid for the remaining four years.

The amount of relief is capped at €1500 per person in the first year, and €750 for the remaining four years, (amounts that are doubled where at least one of the mortgagees in the household is registered disabled).

Accordingly, a couple with no children are entitled to maximum tax relief of €3000 in year 1, with a cap of €7500 tax relief over five years.

If you do not pay income tax, then a tax credit is payable, in an equivalent sum to that you would otherwise have received in tax relief.

5.3.4. Child’s Education

A reduction in income tax towards the costs of a child’s education, called les frais de scolarité.

The reduction is €61 for a child at collège, €153 for a child at lycée and €183 for child at university (2022 income).

5.3.5. Adult Children/Dependants

The system also allows parents who provide direct financial or equivalent support to their adult children or other dependant to charge against their income tax.

This support is called a pension alimentaire, which may be provided either in cash or kind.

In the case of children who live with you under 21, or aged less than 25 years but in education, you can either:

Either opt to attach them to your fiscal household or;
Charge the support you provide to them against your liability to income tax.

Under no circumstances can you obtain both fiscal attachment and the pension alimentaire.

In such cases, the support you provide to them is tax deductible, subject to particular conditions.

This tax deduction is available whether or not the child(ren) lives with you, and irrespective of their age, activity, marital status or place of residence, including outside of France.

The amount of the maximum deduction varies according to the circumstances of your child. The figures are for 2023 income, taxed in 2024.

For a child who is single the deduction cannot exceed €6,674 per year per child per year.
Where your adult child is unmarried with a family and you support him alone the maximum deduction increases to €13,348.
Where your child is married or in a civil partnership and you are supporting the couple on your own. it is also €13,348.

Where the child does not live with you, you may be required to demonstrate to the tax office the payments or other forms of support you have given with them.

Where they live with you then the need for supporting documentation only applies where the level of the support exceeds €3,968 (2024 for 2023 income) a threshold that is assumed to cover the normal costs of board and lodging.

It does not matter that the child may not live in France; provided you can demonstrate you are supporting them it is deductible.

In addition, the support is deductible on the French sourced income of non-residents, on condition that the support is to someone who is resident in France.

However, it is only deductible on the understanding that such support is needed by your child, not merely a way of you obtaining tax relief!

The test is not automatically carried out, but if your circumstances are examined by the tax authority it can be safely said that if your child lives away from home and their income does not exceed the French minimum wage (around €1,400 a month) it will be accepted.

Even if it does exceed this sum, if they have a family to support it is likely it will be accepted, within reasonable limits.

You also need to be aware that the pension alimentaire you declare will also need to be declared by your child if they are resident in France, which could well mean that they themselves become liable for income tax, or the level of their income tax payable increases.

You need to do the sums to see if if works for both of you. In the vast majority of cases it should be beneficial, as the pension alimentaire only qualifies as such for children who are incapable of properly providing for themselves. You are not entitled to provide support where the child does not need it, merely as a tax dodge.

The same rules apply to support granted to ascendants where, for instance, you may be supporting a parent in a retirement home.

However, where a parent over 75 years is living with you and you seek a tax reduction, it is conditional on their maximum income being no greater than €11,553, or €17,905 if couple (2024 for 2023 income).

5.3.6. Long Term Nursing/Residential Care

The costs of those receiving long term nursing or residential care are eligible for a tax allowance of 25% against maximum eligible costs of €10,000 ie €2,500.

You can read more on the issue in our Newsletter article The Costs of Residential Care in France.

5.3.7. Alimony Payments

Payments to a former spouse, in cash or kind, within the first twelve months of the divorce settlement open access to an allowance of 25%, against a maximum eligible payment of €30,500. Accordingly, the maximum tax allowance is €7,625.