Before I moved here, I didn’t know France is the World’s most visited country. Like 77m other people I can’t be wrong to have chosen France and whether you’re here for a holiday, to look around and search for a holiday home or even taking the first steps to finding a permanent home in this area, welcome to your time in the South of France.
Tip 1 - If you really want to know how the French think and how to deal with them read Stephen Clark's hilarious and insighful 'Talk to the Snail'.
When looking at France as a place to bring up our children, we immediately saw the huge benefits that life here would bring us. The children could grow up outdoors in the sunshine. They would have two languages and two great cultures and from where we live it’s 70 mins to the ski stations and 20 mins to the beaches. Few places in the world can offer this.
Tip 2 - 'Assurance Scolaire' Did you know that you must insure your children to go to school in France?
For many, what makes France so attractive beyond the obvious...wine, food, countryside etc, is simply the “difference”. Much of the South even more so, seems to exude an old world charm, from the pace of life to long lunches and the way people stop and talk. But with this attitude to life, comes a difference in the way the French view how many important everyday things are done. Usually irrelevant to your holiday experience, (the slow restaurant service, the interminably long 2 person queues at banks, post offices and shops), it can be frustrating when you have to start dealing with the way the French get (or don’t) get things done.
Tip 3 - France considers the residents total global assets and income as taxable in France. Be prepared.
This is where your local Spectrum Advisor can help. As one of Europe’s largest independent financial advisory groups for English speakers, we have a wealth of knowledge about not just France’s financial and fiscal peculiarities but on living here, setting up and being in business, property financing, pensions and tax planning. With four children, I am also happy to explain many key aspects of raising children in France, including schooling, healthcare and family benefits.
Many people moving to France do so for a lifestyle change or for retirement. In both cases, there is a lot to consider.
For those not yet retired - Unless your French is fluent and even if it is, your chances of finding a job here are limited. Your best option for continued income is going to be self-employment. Income tax is in itself about the same compared to the UK, (unless you have the pleasure of 3+ children your income tax bill is going to be a joy compared certainly to the UK). The real bite out of your income cherry will be social charges and believe me these can be a shock.
For those of retirement age (as per their country of origin) you will enjoy the normal tax-free allowances for pensionable age people. An income of up to almost 50,000 Euros means a tax band of 14%, after allowances of course. In the UK this would be 22%.
Anyone coming to France who has sold a valuable UK property and is likely to have a lump sum to invest after buying their home in France, has a great opportunity to invest tax efficiently and take income via Assurance Vie. There is some potential benefit if you can invest prior to becoming a French resident....I could drone on about Wealth Tax, Inheritance Tax, pensions, property buying and selling, etc, etc., but if you want to find out more follow my column over the next 12 months, where many of these topics and more will be covered.
Spectrum does not charge clients for advice given, which is independent, regulated and indemnified.
Call Martin on 06 43 63 68 63 or by email to
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for your free, no obligation financial review or mortgage application.
