
Why am i paying two lots of french tax at the end of the year?
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WE EXPLAIN WHEN THE BALANCE OF ANY TAX AND SOCIAL CHARGES ON THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR’S INCOME IS PAID, AS WELL AS NEW ON-ACCOUNT PAYMENTS READER QUESTION: I HAVE NOTICED INCREASES IN
AMOUNTS TAKEN OUT OF MY BANK ACCOUNT FOR INCOME TAX TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR. I AM TRYING TO WORK OUT HOW OVERPAYMENTS IN ONE YEAR MAY BE CARRIED OVER AS A CREDIT AGAINST TAX FOR THE
FOLLOWING YEAR. HOW IS THIS MEANT TO WORK? ALSO, MY LAST _AVIS D’IMPÔT_ SEEMED TO INDICATE A REDUCTION IN TAX RELATING TO _PLAFOND ÉPARGNE RETRAITE_, WHICH RESULTS, I THINK, IN ME PAYING
LESS TAX THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL FINANCE CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE 2019. When it comes to payment of taxes during the year, the system is complicated. If one takes any
tax year, the calendar year, income tax declarations are made mid-April to early June for the income of the previous tax/calendar year, and the assessments on this income are issued from
the end of the following July onwards. There are two consequences: first, the balance of any income tax and social charges due on the previous calendar year’s income is due to be paid in up
to four instalments, from September to December (if any refund for overpayment is due, this will be paid out in late summer). Secondly, new on-account amounts of tax and the social charges
start being payable from September through to August of the following year. The monthly amount is around 1/12th of the total tax and social charges due on the latest tax assessment, though
exceptions do occur in this amount, depending on the sources of income. In the following year the same thing will happen, and so on each year. These payments, identified on a bank statement
as the on-account monthly payments, are taken around the 15th of the month and the balancing amounts are taken around the 25th. Note that if the on-account amounts based on the previous
declaration are likely to be inaccurate compared to the real income received, you have the option of adjusting this in your account on the tax website under _Gérer mon prélèvement à la
source_ and _Gérer vos acomptes_. As for the _plafond épargne retraite_, this is for those who could contribute to a French private pension, the function of which is to confirm the maximum
tax-deductible premiums that can be paid into a scheme by the taxpayer. RELATED ARTICLES HOW CAN I CHECK THAT MY FRENCH INCOME TAX BILL IS CORRECT? CHANGING TAX BANDS IN FRANCE: HOW MUCH
COULD YOU SAVE IN 2023? SIX REASONS TO GET YOUR FRENCH FINANCES IN ORDER BEFORE THE NEW YEAR