jvc

Can someone simply explain the TVA in France please? We are looking at purchasing a house, and completing the work ourselves, ie new kitchen, bathrooms etc. I understand the TVA of 5.5% can be gained on installed kitchens. How does this work if we buy and complete the installation ourselves?

cyrian

As far as I know - you wouldn't qualify.
You need to have the installation by a registered installer/joiner.
You might find that there is not much difference in getting someone to install it for you.

Chatter Static

You don't get it, TVA reductions are gained by using enterprises to do the work as are Credit de impot's.

jvc

Chatter static....I know that, I am just wondering the best way forward, whether to complete the installations of the bathrooms and kitchens ourselves, or get an artisan in, and gain the TVA reduction.

cyrian

That is not what your original post said.
The answer to your original question is that you don't get it.

Peabrain

Just a reminder that it's no longer 5.5% but 7%, and the installation must be done by a professional. The house has to be over two years old and the kitchen cannot be free-standing, but fixed to the walls and floor.
The reason the work has to be done by a professional is to combat le travail au noir, or moonlighting. If you do the installation yourself, VAT will be 19,6%

jvc

Thanks Peabrain, that is very helpful. Excuse me being a little thick here, but whenis the TVA paid? Is that at the time of purchasing a kitchen (be it from Castorama or an artisan) or is this classed as home improvements on your tax bill?
Also, what is the best way of finding local artisans who are reputable? Can the Marie help as word of mouth doesn't come up with many results?

bigglesworth

Don't tell my plumber that - he is still invoicing at 5.5!

bigglesworth

Best way is word of mouth. If you can lock in to the local artisan network, they will generally pass another's details on only if that chap is good. Unfortunately, not all the artisans are great, but in my experience most of them are knowledgeable and very capable. But rarely cheap - after all they have the decennnale to consider. Our heating engineer charged what appeared a fortune for our boiler and radiators - but they are all absolutely top quality items. And we are finding, as we have also used him to put in the main bathroom, and replumb one of the others, that when we need to call him out to fix some of the residual problems of the bricoleur who owned the house before that we are not charged a sou. "You are my client" he says, "all part of the service". Needless to say, we are likeley to be clients for life, with service like that.

Peabrain

I had a new fitted kitchen installed a couple of years ago and VAT on the actual kitchen plus labour, but excluding electrical equipment (dishwasher, oven, etc) was charged at 5.5% (at that time). On the IKEA website, they say that if you buy a kitchen from them, you pay 19.6% VAT up front, have it fitted by one of their artisans, and you then claim the difference between 19.6% and 7% back from IKEA. It doesn't figure on one's tax forms. I used a local kitchen supplier, more expensive, but with good artisans, some of whom I already knew.

As for finding a reliable artisan, I doubt very much whether the Mairie would be willing to help; the baker might though, or in my case, the estate agent I bought the house from. But once you've found a good artisan, you'll be able to use his network of fellow corps de métiers and you'll be away. I'm delighted with my little 'team', though as Bigglesworth says, they tend not to come cheap. "Crisis? Wot crisis?"

Chatter Static

To be honest that would depend on how handy with tools you are, also what route with you home you are going up in that in ten years in France in have only been in one finished house that was owned by an English lady every other house is an ongoing renovation ours included but we have just bought this one

Moving north has completely changed how I view French artisans all the ones we have used have done as they said they would and done the jobs nicely. But they don't come cheaply as mentioned but watching four men rewire our new house in two weeks was blissful the heart ache it saved was unquestionable.

My pet hate is French plumbers not leaving pipework all shiny, If it's visible I expect it to be attractive and not burnt to a cider and left.

le plumber

Burnt to a cider??? No wonder i prefer beer....

Its because they braze instead of soldering the pipes You can clean the pipes after the work is done but it will always be blackish. I don't do either anymore, I crimp the fittings nowadays

Anyway getting back to the original post, the TVA will be going up in 2014. 19.6% will rise to 20 and the 7% to 10%.

Merci Mr Holland

Chatter Static

Sticky N Brazing can be shiny to as copper does not get discoloured all the way through and if it's all clean and tidy the slight colour variation in the braze mix looks even better. It's a bit like wiping ones lead/tin/silver drips off with steel wool looks lots nicer.

le plumber

Sticky O too Getting brazing 'tidy' isn't easy unless brazing with silver and even then its not a patch on soldering (as you say as long as you wipe off any excess drops). If you can braze and get the same result as soldering then theres a job for you here if you want

Tweedpipe

Le plumber,
Just seen your signature.
Hope you're not into solitaire........