Re: Taxes
 

They certainly don't fill pot holes with it.....

Re: Taxes
 

Only if you have average income and are an average user of government supplied services.

The reality is that most countries taxation scheme is redistributive, more-so in some countries than others, so many people receive back much less than they pay in.

Re: Taxes
 

...but they do buy lots of those flashy camera things :sneaky:

Re: Taxes
 

Bloody useless for passport photos....... The photos can take weeks to turn up.

Re: Taxes
 

If/when you do relocate to France, be sure to get advice on France's tax treatment of trusts and inheritance.

Re: Taxes
 

If ever. I have seen a number of flashes, in my mirror, but I've never received a picture. :thumbsup:

Re: Taxes
 

Now days you have to be more concerned about average speed checks....

Re: Taxes
 

Yes, a 1% or so tax on assets of trusts.
Also the UK scheme is just deferred taxation and low returns in the long interim. It's a pretty bad financial decision to be honest and a scam for all practical purposes. Just like tax free UK pension deductions are a scam, or at least were as they forced everyone to buy annuities for 75% of the pot. Now that the available tax free amount has reduced, even the appearance of good intent has been removed. I could go on and on.
For the tax paid, France gives back something at least. The UK with its culture of institutional incompetence can't give anything decent back. Just spews garbage back at you with their state schools and NHS. Unless you were terminally ill, the NHS is just useless. It's better to pay slightly higher tax in Scandinavia as the state at least gives something worthwhile back.
For us though, it's just not worth it at current juncture.

Re: Taxes
 

Yes, but it's a minefield. While the father could visit the family, he should not visit too often (subjective), the family shouldn't holiday together (in france or abroad), social visits should largely be independent. Else the taxman will argue that the spouse abroad is emotionally invested as a resident in France and must pay taxes here. I kid you not, UK also follows this sort of test. It's not just based on days spent....and one needs to be prepared to talk separation emotionally too as the tax authorities definately use that as a last recourse and one must be prepared for a judicial review.

Re: Taxes
 

Hi Ilya - did you get professional advice on this? I know of two notaires who are married under "separation de biens", work in the same office, each have their own principal residence in the same town and they are taxed separately. He tells me that it is not at all uncommon in professional circles in France as it allows a lot of tax "optimisation".

Re: Taxes
 

Yes, tax optimisation is one thing and the different between the 2 regimes for these guys is not much as it's only the first few bands that are different. Not like hundreds of thousands of euros. In our case of one working (literally zero tax in a low tax jurisdiction) and another non working spouse, there is a huge incentive for tax authorities to be very aggressive as the differential is worth their time.

We were told that we must be ready to go all the way to a judicial review for this. Not worth it. We don't need to be in france so we will relocate at a more appropriate time i guess. We had pretty much planned out everything and had relocation advance paid etc. and now have to cancel on the move.

Re: Taxes
 

I think your view is overly cautious - I'm not sure how good your French is but this review of mixed tax residence by an international tax lawyer is well worth reading:-

« Couples mixtes » ou de l’impact de la globalisation sur la fiscalité des ménages | Publication Detail | CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre

Incidentally, I have never come across the word "casuistique" before in French and there is no direct translation into English. "Flawed logic" seems to be the nearest equivalent and it is how he describes the Fisc's approach to mixed residence.

Re: Taxes
 

Surely "casuistry" would be the translation? I am not sure if English has an adjectival form. :unsure:

"Sophistry" would be another alternative.

Re: Taxes
 

The meaning is "case by case basis" ;). Thank you for the link. It reaffirms what i was told. The precedents mentioned about greek husband and french
wife make it pretty clear. it would be decided by the tax judge as i was told. Kids studying in france makes it an open and shut case for them. high income, no tax in other jurisdiction means we must contribute our "fair" share. so we would show the :thumbs_down: . We would immigrate when we are "technically" as useful as their average guy and pay whatever is the "fair" share.

Re: Taxes
 

Yes I think having kids in French school could be a problem, it ties you down and makes you an easier target. Many notaires and avocats are using this "optimisation" device but then they are quite comfortable with arguing their case before a judge (who is probably doing the same thing him/herself ;))