French TV licence
Discussion
Can anyone enlighten me as to the current state of play with French TV licences?
I've just installed Sky in our holiday pad, so I understand I need a licence. The internet is giving confusing information, but it seems that the licence is now part of the tax d'habitation.
Seems to me that it is harder not to pay this tax than it is to pay it
I've just installed Sky in our holiday pad, so I understand I need a licence. The internet is giving confusing information, but it seems that the licence is now part of the tax d'habitation.
Seems to me that it is harder not to pay this tax than it is to pay it
Yes it is part of the tax d'habitation, the first page of the same form. It was 116 euros last year.
I think they just assume you have a TV unless you prove otherwise
The rates demand (tax d'habitation) usually comes in September for payment in November (well it does here in Dept 91)
Regards,
A
I think they just assume you have a TV unless you prove otherwise
The rates demand (tax d'habitation) usually comes in September for payment in November (well it does here in Dept 91)
Regards,
A
Puggit said:
Can anyone enlighten me as to the current state of play with French TV licences?
I've just installed Sky in our holiday pad, so I understand I need a licence. The internet is giving confusing information, but it seems that the licence is now part of the tax d'habitation.
Seems to me that it is harder not to pay this tax than it is to pay it
Included with your tax d'habitation.I've just installed Sky in our holiday pad, so I understand I need a licence. The internet is giving confusing information, but it seems that the licence is now part of the tax d'habitation.
Seems to me that it is harder not to pay this tax than it is to pay it
Sky mmm! bet you did not use your French address
neil-f said:
Puggit said:
Can anyone enlighten me as to the current state of play with French TV licences?
I've just installed Sky in our holiday pad, so I understand I need a licence. The internet is giving confusing information, but it seems that the licence is now part of the tax d'habitation.
Seems to me that it is harder not to pay this tax than it is to pay it
Included with your tax d'habitation.I've just installed Sky in our holiday pad, so I understand I need a licence. The internet is giving confusing information, but it seems that the licence is now part of the tax d'habitation.
Seems to me that it is harder not to pay this tax than it is to pay it
Sky mmm! bet you did not use your French address
E160FR said:
Yes it is part of the tax d'habitation, the first page of the same form. It was 116 euros last year.
I think they just assume you have a TV unless you prove otherwise
The rates demand (tax d'habitation) usually comes in September for payment in November (well it does here in Dept 91)
Regards,
A
Sorry for the hijack but where are you in 91 Andrew?I think they just assume you have a TV unless you prove otherwise
The rates demand (tax d'habitation) usually comes in September for payment in November (well it does here in Dept 91)
Regards,
A
The TV licence request for our property came as part of the tax d'habitation, as we don't have a TV and are unlikely to get one for a while (very much early renovation stages) we don't want to pay this but it is actually based on having an aerial or equivalent which unfortunately we do have. I have said that we did not have one on January 1st this year, the date they asked about, and next time I visit I may well be up the ladder taking some metal pointy object down! Seems pretty pointless paying over 150 Euros per year as we would be just to have an aerial - cheaper to get it refitted when/if we ever want one.
Edited by andyps on Wednesday 23 April 13:50
Hmm - not quite right that. You have to prove you don't have a tV or else you will pay as part of your taxes d'habitation. They are now taking away the right of poorer people to pay less for their licence too. I never paid the french licence until now but it has to be said that from the state's part it is an admirable solution since everyone has to pay tyheir "council tax". Oh, and if you buy a TV here that is automatically recorded as proof you do have a TV. I used my english adress which is how I got away with it for years.
That may well be down to my interpretation of the letter - it definitely talks about receptor of television which we took to mean the aerial rather than a TV set. If it is the latter I don't need to worry as we certainly don't have one of them, please can you confirm. My wife is the one who really interprets everything so I will blame her if we were wrong (her French is way better than mine)!
The simple answer is to pop into the mairie and ask. I have no knowledge but if it is anything like the rest of the state beaurocracy here then you are on an uphill battle to get the tax removed though. On the more positive side, the mairie might just show you instantly how to remove the tax. Best of luck!
Prior to the change in the law we bought a tv here - to watch dvd's on, we didn't have a dish, aerial or digibox at the time. Shortly after the purchase we received a letter saying we had to pay the license fee. I wrote to them saying that we wouldn't be receiving any tv signals on the house and they were more than welcome to come and inspect the property, after that they left us alone until the new changes came in, subsequently we've put up a dish and have a freeview box so can't really argue!
I'd say write to them and ask for it to be taken off your tax d'habitation.
I'd say write to them and ask for it to be taken off your tax d'habitation.
I live in france on a permanent basis, so I want to clarify a few things that have been said... (if I may 
)
- Old system, you buy a TV, they take your name and address, and send you the bill. There were lots of ways around this, second hand tvs, foreign addresses, register them all at one address.. The government knew they were missing out on a lot of lolly..
- New system, they assume that you have a tv, and up to you to tell them you don't. When you send of your income taxes (if you are paying taxes in France), you need to check off a tiny box somewhere on the page saying you do not have a TV. (my case) If you don't pay income taxes and probably blindly pay the taxe d'habitation, since you couldn't be bothered to reading the fine print.. you're paying..
One way around this if you're a foreigner and only watch sky.. get a dish + video projector, they can't do anything about it.. and if they come around.. (which I've never heard of happening yet), Nothing to see here! There are a few other loopholes in the system... (internet tv etc..)
I don't have a TV, so I refuse to pay the silly tax, and don't have sky either.. /rant
FL.
)- Old system, you buy a TV, they take your name and address, and send you the bill. There were lots of ways around this, second hand tvs, foreign addresses, register them all at one address.. The government knew they were missing out on a lot of lolly..
- New system, they assume that you have a tv, and up to you to tell them you don't. When you send of your income taxes (if you are paying taxes in France), you need to check off a tiny box somewhere on the page saying you do not have a TV. (my case) If you don't pay income taxes and probably blindly pay the taxe d'habitation, since you couldn't be bothered to reading the fine print.. you're paying..
One way around this if you're a foreigner and only watch sky.. get a dish + video projector, they can't do anything about it.. and if they come around.. (which I've never heard of happening yet), Nothing to see here! There are a few other loopholes in the system... (internet tv etc..)
I don't have a TV, so I refuse to pay the silly tax, and don't have sky either.. /rant
FL.
frenchlemon said:
One way around this if you're a foreigner and only watch sky.. get a dish + video projector, they can't do anything about it.. and if they come around.. (which I've never heard of happening yet), Nothing to see here! There are a few other loopholes in the system... (internet tv etc..)
FL.
thats what we do here.FL.
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