Who usually needs to file

You may need to file a French income tax return if you live in France, become a French tax resident, receive French-source income, own French property, or have foreign income that must be reported in France. In France, the tax system is based on the fiscal household (foyer fiscal) rather than individual salaries alone, which changes how quotas and tax brackets are applied. For official guidelines on who is considered a French tax resident, you can consult the official impots.gouv.fr residency criteria.

  • Foreign residents in France
  • First-year arrivals
  • Self-employed workers
  • Property owners
  • Taxpayers with foreign accounts or income

What makes the first return difficult

The first year is usually the most complex because you do not yet possess a 13-digit French tax number (numéro fiscal) to file online. You may be unsure which auxiliary schedules apply, especially when dealing with dual-source income and international treaties. Navigating paper Form 2042 along with complex professional categories such as BIC, BNC, or rental income requires precise categorization. You can verify general administrative requirements via the Service-Public tax overview.

  • Missing French tax number
  • Form 2042 and schedules
  • Foreign bank accounts
  • Family status changes
  • Income earned before and after moving

What to prepare before asking ORAVIA

FiscoExpat functions as a smart preparation companion. We gather your identity, family configuration, tax history, and income types in a secure format. This structured file enables Sacha Juglet and the ORAVIA team to review your specific situation quickly, verify compliance, and send an accurate mission letter. For details on how the tax administration processes incoming declarations, check the official DGFiP first-time declaration rules.

  • Identity and contact details
  • Country of residence
  • Tax year
  • Income categories
  • Available tax notices and income statements

Questions people ask

Can I file in English?

The French administration forms are in French, but the intake and ORAVIA communication can be handled in English.

Does the platform file automatically?

No. The platform prepares intake and documents. ORAVIA handles the accepted accounting mission after signature.