Déclaration de revenus deadlines
| When | What happens | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| April | Online declaration service opens | All households |
| Mid-May | Paper declaration deadline | Households allowed to file on paper |
| Late May to early June | Online deadline, staggered by département | Households filing online |
| Summer | Tax notice (avis d'impôt) and any balance or refund | All households |
How the French income tax return works
France taxes the household (foyer fiscal), and the number of family shares (parts de quotient familial) spreads income across its members. Much of the return is pre-filled with salary and pension figures reported by employers.
- Form 2042: the main declaration, pre-filled online.
- Form 2042-C-PRO: additional income from self-employment, including micro-entrepreneur turnover.
- Form 2047: income from abroad.
- Prélèvement à la source: withholding by employers, or monthly instalments (acomptes) for the self-employed and landlords.
You must still file even though tax is withheld: the declaration is how the final amount and next year's withholding rate are set. Upload your documents to TaxOrch and ask in English which boxes apply. See document upload.
Auto-entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs
The micro-entrepreneur regime (still widely called auto-entrepreneur) is the simplified regime for sole traders. You declare turnover to URSSAF monthly or quarterly and pay social contributions as a percentage of it; for income tax, a flat allowance for expenses is deducted before your profit is taxed, unless you opted for the versement libératoire, which pays income tax with your contributions.
- Stay within the turnover limits for your type of activity, or you leave the regime.
- Report your annual turnover on your déclaration de revenus even if tax was paid through the versement libératoire.
- Keep a record of receipts and, for sales of goods, purchases.
More in tax help for freelancers.
Deductions and tax credits to check
Common items include the credit for employing someone at home, childcare costs, donations to qualifying organisations, and payments into a retirement savings plan (PER). Employees can also choose actual professional expenses (frais réels) instead of the standard 10% deduction. TaxOrch takes the ceilings for the year you ask about. Try the deduction finder.
TVA: do I charge VAT?
The standard TVA rate is 20%, with reduced rates for some goods and services. Small businesses below the franchise thresholds (franchise en base de TVA) do not charge TVA and write the legal exemption mention on invoices. Above them you charge TVA and file returns. The thresholds depend on your activity and are revised by law, so TaxOrch checks the figures for the year you ask about.
How TaxOrch helps with French taxes
- 1Ask in EnglishGet answers in English with the French term and the official source.
- 2Upload your documentsPayslips, tax notices and invoices are read and sorted.
- 3Stay on scheduleThe dates for the declaration deadline for your département and URSSAF dates, each with its official source.
TaxOrch does not submit your declaration: you file on impots.gouv.fr or through an expert-comptable. Firms can book a demo, request a demo account or offer TaxOrch under their own brand with a White-label licence.
When to talk to an expert-comptable
- You have received a tax reassessment or a request for information.
- Your turnover is approaching the micro-entrepreneur limits.
- You moved to or from France during the year or have income abroad.
- You are setting up a company such as an SASU or EURL.
Frequently asked questions
When is the French tax return due?
- Usually in late May or early June for online declarations, with the exact date depending on your département. Paper declarations are usually due in mid-May.
Do I still file a return with prélèvement à la source?
- Yes. Withholding collects tax during the year, but the annual déclaration de revenus sets the final amount and your next withholding rate.
Can TaxOrch file my déclaration de revenus?
- No. TaxOrch does not file returns. It prepares a draft marked as not filed. You file on impots.gouv.fr or through an expert-comptable.
How are auto-entrepreneurs taxed in France?
- They pay social contributions as a percentage of turnover declared to URSSAF, and income tax either on turnover after a flat allowance or through the versement libératoire option.
Sources
Related on TaxOrch
- Multi-country taxIncome and moves across more than one country.
- Tax help for freelancersContributions, expenses and TVA.
- AI tax assistantAnswers in English with official sources.
- All countriesCountry guides and coverage levels.