We don’t live permanently in France so are subject to UK taxes. I have no problem with that and couldn’t care less what the UK gov takes from my estate eventually as I shan’t be here to worry about it! I think that UK tax people would also probably offset it too.
I love living in both countries. There are pros and cons on living in either country and the UK is certainly experiencing difficulties now through various avenues but I would still prefer to live most of the year there and venture out to other countries on holiday and other areas of the UK which are different to the Cotswolds where we live. There are beautiful areas of the UK yet to explore and enjoy with the advantage of not having to travel too far
Neighbours in their early 80’s sold their large property and a separate land parcel (with building permission), so that they would have money to spend as they pleased and enjoy what time they had left with those they loved.
They rented a property closer to their son (down in the South of France) and had the time of their lives with him and the grandchildren.
Both lived until they were around 98/99 and only spent a couple of years in EHPAD’s (due to Alzmer etc) before death finally released them within a few months of each other
But only French charities and if there’s money there at the end I have people who are doing the most amazing stuff in this world, based in the UK and I want to make that journey easier for them.
On reflection, and I’m being genuine here rather than holier-than-thou, I think I’m ok with the French state taking a slice of whatever inheritence I might leave, but then I’ve no children so undoubtedly see things differently. I figure France has so far (touch wood) been good to me. I’ve (financial) benefits available to me that I don’t take but feel comforted to know are there. I’m amazed at even the simple cheque d’énergie, sent to me automatically and without request. Truth is, there won’t be a great deal anyway but I certainly wouldn’t begrudge a good slice going to the state. Who knows how/where I’ll be spending my final days.
Edit: I might just change my will, leave it all to the French state. Cut out the end man as it where! Or rip up my will. Same result I suppose.
My family and/or friends are the only thing that I can think would make me leave France willingly.
This may be an unpopular opinion but I just see tax - inheritance tax, income tax, taxe d’habitation, whatever - as a necessity to help make France the wonderful country that it is.
By living here I am benefiting - either directly or indirectly - from the infrastructure, healthcare, public services, judicial system, education, etc… Those things all need funding, and that comes from taxation. To put it bluntly, you could say I’m a collectivist not an individualist.
I’m extremely fortunate and very grateful to be in the position where my salary puts me in a frankly ridiculously high percentile of income tax payers in France. I honestly don’t begrudge paying any of it though (otherwise I’d have chosen to not live here!). It’ll be the same for inheritance tax due on my estate whenever I meet my maker.
Breton friends have signed their property over to their three sons recently and no inheritance tax comes into play. They remain usufruct until the second one dies. Cost about €1000 to do with the Notaire. Suppose if your children are not French then you have no choice but for them to pay the 60% or not accept the succession which they can do.
No there aren’t the same problems as with intestacy in England and Wales, the notaire as representant of the state will apportion everything in accordance with the code civil, and levy the taxes.
Just a warning for those who have not had experience of a parent in a care home in the UK recently. If one of you is in a care home and the other spouse lives in the family owned home, after the death of the second spouse, the local council will force a sale to provide continuing care of the one in the care home if they are not being covered for expenses privately. It happened to us in 2017 when dad died and who had lived alone since mum went into care which was subsidised by the local council as at over £1000/week plus, they could not afford to pay it privately. Luckily dad had willed his half to the family and mum’s half was taken towards her care apart from £20k they allow you to keep. It lasted just over two and a half years before she had to go back to social payments but we were harangued to get the house sold within four months of dad dying so they could take the money and start using it. An old school friend of mine, an only child lost the family home completely to pay for her mum also in another council run care home when she should have inherited it. Arguments on both sides for the case of not leaving large sums to children when a parent is being subsidised by the local authority and those who say its their right and their parents paid in during their working lives. I can see both sides and here in France even grandchildren have to pay for care if the rest of the family cannot manage the payments.
Certainly in my home area, the council challenges these hard and usually successfully. The only exception is when the offspring are vulnerable and need support.
I pay enough tax here because of my circumstances and don’t feel I take anything more than that from France. I have the double tax treaty but still have more than enough tax to pay in uk as well.
I have been advised few UK Trust are accepted here and I have financial and property Trusts.
French tax allowance per child is €100 (£87) with 45% tax after allowance .
Uk total , not per child, allowance is £325 (€375) with 40% after allowance but not if have Trusts
The best for me is to return to uk to do what I think is best with my estate for my children and still live very comfortably with frequent holidays in Europe and beyond.
It’s something I hadn’t thought through years ago and I should have kept my house as the maison secondaire that it was rather than changing to my permanent residence. I may even down size before I return to possibly have a maison secondaire.
Hi JohnBoy
Basically Him Indoors came back from a bike ride along the Rhine and said “Why the * are we moving to Norfok?”
I’m 62 and he’s 60 and we sort of concluded that, for the most active phase of our retirement, ie hopefully the next ten years or so, it makes sense to stay where we are. We’re very keen cyclists (he does mountain biking) and we have better weather here, great access to traffic-free cycling (thanks to the proximity of Germany which is awash with trails). And in Strasbourg we can access specialist doctors if necessary at the drop of a hat.
To be honest, too, I was not looking forward to the logistics of having to find a property and buy in England (where we know absolutely no one) and sell up in France. I know your own move went incredibly smoothly but you do have family in England.
We’re not planning to stay in France forever. I don’t fancy getting (really) old here. At some point in our 70s we will simply give notice to the tenants in our house in Northern Ireland and move there. Hopefully the health service will have improved by then. It’s currently appalling.
Someone expressed interest in buying our Strasbourg flat last week so we’re considering selling and moving into a rental. It’s perhaps a bit early for that, although I can see the heating system (oil) becoming more and more of an issue as time passes.
To answer the title question I have only one word, death. But I’d have to be doolally first as there is a space reserved for me at the bottom of the hill with my lovely friend. If she wasn’t waiting for me I would love to be here, in amongst the gently swaying giant trees, with all the dogs around me (6 so far )
I guess I can’t will around the legislature either. That is, specifically exclude siblings etc from getting a share, leave it all to my chosen charity the French state.
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