Tax Declaration 2022 for Worldwide Income 2021

Something to think about…

Seems earlier than usual and the Aveyron’s May 24 deadline is a bit tight!

Will have to do the UK one first and that can’t happen until I get my 2021-22 P60s…

Wouldn’t it be lovely if the UK had the same tax year as France - life would be so much simpler! I just managed to get my UK return in before the end Feb extended deadline, and here we go again with the French return, then another UK return - but I did find a wonderful solution for the UK return last year, as I used a company called Taxscouts. Online and cost a little over £100 from memory. Seemed like a clever set up as they dish out the work to a pool of accountants, many of which probably do it on top of their day job - wonderful, efficient service :+1: Would be great to find the French equivalent, but still searching :grinning:

1 Like

The UK tax year is the one that’s out of step with the rest of the world. This goes back quite a way, but all is explained here:-

Nevertheless, despite moan above, I actually quite enjoy doing it all myself.

It’s an interesting challenge because for historical reasons, despite not being particularly wealthy (or perhaps, because we’re not particularly wealthy) our financial affairs straddle two continents, four countries and ten accounts, all of which only meet one another on the French tax return. Fortunately the French authorities only ask for account numbers, but I’m always paranoid that because we have so many accounts in so many different countries and currencies, they’ll think we’re trying to hide something.

I got a headache just imagining that :grinning: having to deal with, and co-ordinate, two countries is more than enough for me! Best of luck, but sounds likes you’re now an expert after all the juggling :+1:

Thanks,
I’m certainly not an expert, but to give them credit, within my experience despite often being generally maligned, all the tax authorities with which we deal - France, Ireland, S Africa and the UK do give very clear guidance, which makes everything so much easier.

I don’t have any specialised knowledge, and am continually surprised by how otherwise intelligent people with fairly simple tax situations rush to accountants when they could probably easily figure out their own tax allowances and obligations.

But, obviously, if the accountant’s costs don’t matter, that’s a different matter…

A good accountant will often save a tax payer the amount of his fee, legally…

1 Like

One would hope that would usually be the case with any accountant. Not worth using one otherwise!

Oh, I don’t know :thinking:

I recall the tax round thread last year and the take by @JohnBoy about the benefits of using an accountant, no matter what.
That was a very interesting discussion and you may wish to review it.

2 Likes

You are missing the point of using an accountant by conjuring up visions of individuals struggling into an accountants office with a pile of paperwork and asking said accountant to sort it.

No doubt it was, but there appear to have been 265 posts and I’m pushing seventy, so without a link, life’s too short to try and ‘review it’! :wink:

In any case, I don’t need an accountant, I haven’t been self-employed for fifteen years and everything relevant to our household is very easy to work out regardless of which country is involved.

I sometimes get a whiff of an anti-Connexion faction on SF, but I think that for many people, spending a few euros on The Connexion’s annual tax guide (and taking the time to read it carefully - I highlight relevant passages as I read) is much better value for money…

1 Like

P60’s are only relevant to a point when filing a french tax return due to the different accounting period of April to April in UK and January to December in France as has already been mentioned.
An otherwise intelligent person would surely keep a flow chart of income each month for French tax purposes?
I present all my detailed income to my French accountant which I am completely competent in doing.
I employ my accountant as an expert in French taxation to collate the figures l provide correctly.
Each year I read of people asking does it go in this box or that box and of course the warning of what happens when it is in the wrong box.
And the classic disagreement of posters suggesting what the official exchange rate will be.
No thanks, I’ll pass on getting involved, life’s too short.
once the return is submitted should any queries be raised then it is the accountant who answers them so no stress for me.
As for the UK return as I am a French resident and completely the relevant forms to HMRC forms my Uk tax return takes all of 10 minutes to do.

We all approach life differently.

3 Likes

DrMarkH
May I ask where and how you purchase the guide? Do you have to subscribe to the website?
Thanks

Not so, ever since I became a French resident in 2017, the French tax authorities have accepted my UK pensions’ P60s despite the difference in tax years. No need to faff around with flow charts.

Re the exchange rate, each year The Connexion’s tax guide gives a single exchange rate for the whole tax year that is accepted for use in a tax return.

I still maintain that for most people filing tax returns in the countries I mentioned previously is very straightforward.

1 Like

Sorry, I can’t give a firm answer because a) I’m a subscriber, and b) the new guide hasn’t yet appeared. However it’s usually available as a PDF and/or hard copy for about €15 and I imagine it’ll appear very soon.

I buy a fresh copy every year because the numbered boxes on the tax form change from year to year. I always order the printed version because I like handling paper and physically highlighting relevant sections

1 Like

I think that the most awkward thing for many people is the way that the French Tax Inspectors at the various Hotels des Impots require the same types of income to be declared in different ways. The problem is clearly one of inadequate training, and this results in people with identical incomes, from identical sources, being taxed differently according to where they live.
For example: The Tax Inspector at our local office is unable to understand the difference between a pension which is paid by the UK Government, and a pension which is a “Government Pension” paid from the UK. Therefore he insists that both the UK State Pension, and a “Government Pension” paid in respect of public service employment in the UK, are lumped together and declared in the same box which is of course incorrect.
However, being the Tax Inspector in charge of the Hotel des Impots he cannot be wrong or mistaken in any circumstance, and anyway it would be impolite for me (a mere foreigner and Third Country National to boot) to argue with him. Therefore, I just submit our return on paper as he specifically instructed, and put a note in with the return that it is submitted in accordance with his specific written instructions, and all is well.

So in the event of anyone having trouble with their French tax return, I would recommend obtaining a rendez-vous with the tax inspector, taking all the paperwork with you (especially that which shows the UK tax already paid), pleading confusion and seeming to be a bit thick, and asking him ever so nicely if he could note down on a spare form that you happen to have with you, exactly which income he wants put in each box. Then thank the Inspector profusely, beat a hasty retreat, and guard those written instructions most carefully having noted his/her name and the date and time of the interview there upon.
You may find that following the Inspector’s instructions might well save you money which you can then donate to the charity of your choice. (Of course you will keep the receipt for said donation so that you can deduct it from next years income.) :slight_smile:
I wish you all many happy returns.

3 Likes

Well, I’m 71 and found the link in about 15 seconds :slightly_smiling_face:

Ah, but I’m not called ‘Tech Guru’ nor would I wish to become ‘Accountancy Guru’, instead I simply enjoy filling in our tax forms, finding it a satisfying task.

1 Like

:grin:
reminds me of this…

Hmmm… Going off the cover, it looks like one of those books in which nothing much happens…

1 Like