Last year James received one of these - see below. I didn't. I went to the tax office to question it - they told me I wasn't the first person to be down there querying it and sent me to another building.
The woman there told me it was because James was an AE. In the end it seemed easiest to pay it esp. as the deadline was looming and as we all know, you have to pay up before you can argue the point. I planned to at least find out what it was but then broke my ankle and promptly forgot all about it until now when he has just received another one.
Anyone got any ideas on what this is for?
Catharine, is this Agessa something you registered with after having closed your AE status, or was this a first time deal for you as self employed in FR? Proving your earnings, now what did that involve? Bank statements? And seems strange that they'd have you prove income and not prove you're actually doing whatever occupation you aim to register as. I'm AE now, both myself and my wife, and she is a writer and we just struggled looking for the closest possible match in terms of occupation title and presumed there was something strange with the AE system when registering having few or no options related to titles for writers. So we've been with AE since 2012 or so and we are now going to explore this as so far the cost is only going up and up without option to deduct at least office space expense or costs of any kind. Wonder what kind of headache this switch, if it works out, will create for us!
hi Robert, I've been here 6 years and still learning.. I didn't have much of a grasp on the lingo when I arrived, but I had spent some time reading up on what to expect and how to get into the various systems here.. thankfully, I met up with many local English at a coffee morning and they passed on a great deal of local knowledge.. and urban myths.. yes, the healthcare entry for immigrants did change, I was almost caught out.. but they back dated the ruling which made my E106 valid..
an yes.. even the French and the functionaries have problems with their own rules.. thank to the internet, SFN and other sites.. there is a mass of good assistance out there to get through many of the initial stages of making it work here.. but if you find out what papers they need.. and give the exactly what they ask.. it can be a doddle.. and then.. sometimes not.. judging by others and their experiences.. I have also been fortunate to have French and English speaking dutch friends here, who have been of great help translating documents.. now, after 6 years, the paper work is legible given my poor French.. but for some things, it's imperative to have a proper translation.. stay with it.. it's good here.. look on the papers as a challenge, not a nightmare... months ago, I faced "the dragon".. in CPAM.. reputedly, she is less than helpful and doesn't speak English.. hates us by all accounts.. I approached her. and said in my best French.. "sorry I can not speak French, i'm trying.. but it isn't going in.. can you help me please?".. she then started speaking in English, and was more than helpful.. no one at coffee mornings believe me.. good luck with your papers..
For me Bob, the problem is not the cost but the lack of clarity. It has taken me a year so far to be more confused than I was when I arrived. The biggest problem I have of course is not having a good grasp of the language that goes without saying. That is my fault....
But when the French themselves struggle to understand their own system then what chance do the rest of us stand. I have only just determined that the whole system was dramatically overhauled in 2007 which may explain some of it. But I think 5 years should be enough time to adapt don't you?
Actually, I agree. And I too have had a number of experiences when things trip out of the mouths of state officials and people at the banks ... Robert, you are bold to say it, but I agree with you. "it's all leaving a bad taste in my mouth" too.
so.. in uk, you don't pay stamp duty when buying a house, don't pay council tax, road tax, tv tax, 20% vat on so many goods, car tax if you buy a new one..
Pay a few hundred grand for a house here.. and get nothing like it in uk
Registering your car here is pretty simple and costs a few bucks. then you save by not paying the rip off "Road fund license" of the uk
Did the French invite you here.. or was it your choice?.. it's their country, their ways.. deal with it..
If you can prove that you earn more than around 8000€ a year, you can register with Agessa which is probably the best scheme for writers and photographers.
I didn't know about this when we came to France so on NUJ advice registered as a Conseil en Communication - which covers a multitude of sins :)
You are correct, Annette. We have an acquaintance up in Normandy who was told that she could NOT register AE as a writer (she's a medical technology writer and can work from home totally online). When she began getting her first tax bills under the other scheme (I too can't remember the name of it), she discovered that she was paying 49% plus other assorted 'necessary fees' which ended up totalling 53% all up!
They had a simply brilliant accountant who tried to find deductions for her, but her internet with Orange, the upgrade on her computer, professional membership dues, and some misc. office supplies was all that she could deduct since she didn't have trade related work clothing or tools and she didn't drive to clients and need to deduct for mileage.
She de-registered (and it took them 18 MONTHS to get the French to stop taking money out of their accounts for taxes she no longer owed!) and moved back to Cornwall.
Good point, surely 'ordures menageres' is 'household rubbish' Some communes pay it as part of their taxe fonciere, others pay it as a separate taxe, have a look at your Taxe fonciere to see if it is included - if it is will be shown as a separate item on your bill.
Not as an AE but as an owner of an empty cottage (maybe used 2 weeks a year) I was forced to pay Ordures Menageres plus habitation and fonciere for a second home in the same village. It's let out now though. There are many Brit owned (and some French owned) empty or maisons secondaires in our village the benefit of which is I suppose that permanent inhabitants are subsidised by the others!
Interesting, we are two AEs in this household and recycle as much as possible, which is supposedly 'rewarded' - at least notionally. So will we be double charged for filling a black sack every two weeks and sorting out our plastics and metals appropriately, plus glass in the right place occasionally. The rest is composted and a little incinerated in our wood stove. I think our complaint at the mairie might be amusing to say the least, I would definitely demand a rebate instead of a bill.
Yet another way of taxing AE's!? I have been working from home as an EURL for 2 years and I have never received such a bill. I am now working as an AE and will soon receive one I guess. Did I start producing more waste as an AE? This is ridiculous!
Steve, I have thought that of the "black " economy for some time. Everyone knows it exists and the tax system is geared it seems to accommodate it. But that, and the distinctiveness this system promotes is completely nonsensical. Give me the "simplicity" of the English/British tax system any day and I never thought I'd ever say that.
Most French people( at least the ones who have travelled a bit) find the system complicated and full of useless functionnaires(don’t even get me started on the nightmare I’ve been living for the last 10 days trying get our uk car onto French plates!!). indeed, you should be paying for the rubbish disposals, management… In your tax d’habitation already! Unless, they have certain rules for certain activities(depending on the insee code you’ve chosen when you registered as a AE). I’m under “services”, and touch wood, I’ve never received such a bill. Good luck!! The weather is nice but it’s not a fun system!!!