I've finally decided on my 'profession' on the AE website and am ready to register but do I need to be an official French resident? If so, how do I go about this?
I am living in France permanently but am moving to a different village & department in 2 weeks.
Beware URSSAF though as they don't seem to like the AE regime - back in 2009 when it started, they didn't know what it was and had no training either - they allocated me someone who I sent all the government's documents and I then talked her through it...!!! After that things were fine as long as she dealt with my paperwork, it took a year or so for the others to get up to speed!
Robert - the AE set up really is sooo simple and a piece of cake compared to the normal regimes ;-)
Claire - wait until you've moved, it's less hassle (I moved 4 times/3 different départements and 3 different régions and each change of address was done through the dedicated site as was my résiliation a couple of years ago. All very simple but you have to get used to their services forgetting you've changed and still receiving letters years later, but there again, that's France...!)
Yes, recommend that you wait until you move. I moved after registering as an AE and now have a home address which is my old address (where I don't live) and a work address, my new home, where I don't work. lol
Despite a comment further down, I found actually registering as an AE quite simple with the help of a French speaker: the problems arise when you change anything!
Beware URSSAF though as they don't seem to like the AE regime.
Lol......I need to know the purpose it serves before I could even consider accepting it...."What" the problem is isn't the question (french bureaucracy) it's "purpose", however is..... ;o))
This whole business of registration still amazes me to be honest. I cannot believe how complicated it is. Claire, you must have started this discussion weeks ago and were probably thinking about it for a long time before that.
Why on earth don't they (the French authorities) smell the coffee and get their act together?? I can't believe I'm the only one that is put off or at the very least, delayed from earning a living and therefore contributing to the French "coffers".
I would be very grateful to anybody who could actually explain "why" it is so complicated.....My hat goes up to everyone who has gone through the process.....
Personally I would wait until you have moved to register and I say this because I moved recently and when I registered my move it meant firstly you get a new Siret number and also some paperwork will inevitably got to the old address.
If you register online which I did all you do is fill in your details including address( I am renting at present) and then I got my Siret number and away I went.