Why French tax authorities may take money from your bank account this week
It relates to income tax declaration this spring
One further monthly payment is due in December
Sharaf Maksumov / Shutterstock
Taxpayers in France may have noticed money being taken from their bank account yesterday (November 25) by the French fiscal authorities.
However, there is no reason to fret if this is the case – the deduction is the third of four payments for those who still have income tax left to pay.
As a reminder, 2024’s income tax declaration (for 2023 income) helped authorities see if residents had paid too little – or too much – tax.
Where this was the case, in general people either received a rebate or had to pay the remaining tax owed in a one-off payment over the summer period.
In cases where people owed over €300 however, this payment is split into four equal deductions between September and December – the final payment will be on December 27.
The payment will be taken out by ‘Direction générale des Finances publiques’ with the justification ‘solde impôt revenus 2023’.
Those needing to pay this extra tax do not need to do anything to ensure it happens (other than ensure the French tax authorities have up to date information on their bank account) as the payment is taken out automatically.
Read more: What to do if you cannot pay a tax bill in France
Making monthly payments for other taxes
You can find how much income tax you had left to pay – if any – on your avis d’imposition, available through your personal space on the French tax site, an email sent to you earlier in the year, or if you requested it, a paper form.
There is no choice in how these payments are made (i.e in one chunk or over four months).
However, property owners can opt to pay their taxe foncière and taxe d’habitation over ten months, if they wish.
To do this for taxes due in 2025, they must select the option to do this prior to December 15 this year (or December 31, and split it into nine monthly payments).
You can do this in your personal space on the French tax site, by clicking Paiements and then Adhérer au prélèvement mensuel pour le prélèvement de mes impôts.
It is also possible to do this for CFE business taxes through your professional space on the website.
