Bramber

Hi All,

Been living in France for 20 years and am registered as an independent worker (Engineering Design - Geotechnical). I pay tax, social charges, have a French business bank account and also a French accountant. My Clients are all UK based and I work remotely by internet with no need to go to the UK. Up to now my clients were happy to include me on their PI (Professional Indemnity) insurance for design works. Recently they have requested that all their outside suppliers provide their own PI insurance. This has caused me certain issues.

I've tried to find professional indemnity insurance providers in France who will cover UK work but to no avail - can anyone help with this issue? (I suspect the cost will be astronomic!)

Umbrella companies are no good as they cannot provide the PI and anyway Engineering Design is not included in the list of permissible occupations.

An alternative is to set up a UK company with me as the sole shareholder / director. This will solve the issue of PI insurance as I know that I can get this in the UK for a reasonable cost. I also know that non UK resident people can set up a UK company and as my bum will be in France for the tax year, I will pay tax / social charges in France.

My question is can a sole director, non resident in the UK work for their company which has been registered in the UK.?

I've found conflicting answers on the various forums and before I go down this route I need a bit of clarification.

Thanks in advance

Bram.

EuroTrash

If you set up a UK company, that company can then employ you as an employee in France in pretty much the same way as a French company employs employees in France.
Details here https://www.urssaf.fr/portail/files/...FE-UK-2017.pdf
The employment contract, conditions of employment etc would obviously have to fully comply with French labour law. If you don't fancy setting it all up yourself there are French companies that will help you. At a cost.
I take it you've checked that the post Brexit trade deal doesn't impact on the services you provide? It's just the fact that apparently nobody will insure it, that made me wonder.

Bramber

Thanks EuroTrash,

I don't particularly want to go down the route of setting up an SARL as past experience of friends (and my accountant) indicates that this is expensive to set up and even more expensive / time consuming to close.

I'm looking at getting RCP insurance (to satisfy my clients' requirement for PI insurance) and am talking to several brokers and we'll see what the cost is. I've only got a couple of years work left before retiring so if it costs a coupe of grand (€) so be it.

If you know a good insurance broker for bossiness please do let me know.

regards,

Bram.

EuroTrash

It can be, that's why the "foreign firm with no establishment in France" is potentially a better route because you don't have to set up any kind of French business structure, as the name suggests. The company remains a UK Ltd Co (or whatever) and is simply integrated into the French system as an employer in France.

Sorry, can't help with either a business specialist or a specially bossy broker LOL. Do you have French qualis? because in this shiny new post Brexit world where everything works so smoothly, it's possible that the issue of recognition of profession qualifications between the UK and France might rear its ugly head.