Tax refund for French property owners

Thursday 16 January 2014

A Jersey tax specialist says Islanders who own property in France could be entitled to a tax refund following the scrapping of a "discriminatory taxation" law.

A French court has ruled that the law on foreign-owned property in France was against EU legislation and has struck it down. The ruling means that Islanders who own property in France will no longer have to pay French income tax on three-times the annual rental value of the property.

On his website www.overseaschambers.com Barrister Peter Harris, who specialises in tax advice says: "The upshot of this decision is that Jersey residents are not liable to French income tax under Article 164C and, where they have been influenced into paying it,  should be able to reclaim tax previously paid on this basis.

"Those who have declared and paid, despite Overseas Chamber's previous position to the contrary, should contact the firms having advised this action to institute reclaims of taxes unduly paid within the usual time limits. Overseas Chambers can help in dealing with repayment claims and advising on other tax ramifications of the decision."