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French Buyers' Info

  • Switzerland
  • France
  • Austria

Property Restrictions for Foreigners

What taxes will be paid on death?

Inheritance Tax. In France it is the beneficiary who pays the tax rather than the estate and the tax rates and allowances vary according to the deceased’s relationship to the heir.

There is no inheritance tax payable between spouses or couples with a “Pacte Civile de Solidarité”

Each child is entitled to a tax free allowance of €100,000 from a parent and there are large tax bands at both 20% and 30%. Therefore, for children, French inheritance tax is perfectly reasonable and for a large estate, where assets are left to children, normally the inheritance tax bill is considerably lower than in the UK. Also, France offers more opportunities for reducing tax. Inheritance Tax can be reduced or completely avoided by buying in the name of a company (SCI).

When the value of assets passes the €100,000 threshold the rate of Inheritance Tax is banded depending on the value of additional assets in France.
 
 Fraction taxable  Taxe rate
 Up to €8,072  5%
 From €8,072 to €12,109      10%
 From €12,109 to €15,932  15%
 From €15,932 to €552,324    20%
 From €552,324 to €902,838   30%
 From €902,838 to €1,805,677     40%
 Above €1,805.677       45%
 


Information correct as of 1st January 2024. This may change as rules and regulations change often, so please contact us directly if you have any specific enquiries.