Everything that changes about life in France in October 2019
Here's all the changes that come into place in France in October as well as the key dates.
Gas prices
Some good news about gas bills- they're set to fall. People on a regulated gas tariff have already seen a 0.9 percent decrease in their bill in September, but that is set to fall again in October, this time by 2.4 percent. The decrease will be 0.6 percent for customers who use gas for cooking, 1.4 percent for those who have a dual use, cooking and hot water, and 2.5 percent for fireplaces that use gas.
Retirement plans
There are changes coming in to simplify the plan épargne retraite individuel (PERi) individual retirements savings plan. Separate to the state pension, this allows employees to save for their retirement, but it has been criticised for being too complicated, especially for people who switch between the public and private sectors during their careers.
Pension discussions
Also on the theme of retirement, President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday hosts a 'Grand débat' on the theme of pension plans. The French government is pushing for ambitious reforms to the French pension system, which has already put it on a collision course with unions. Macron hopes that hosting a series of pubic discussions on the subject - as he did during the early days of the 'yellow vest' protests - will calm public anger on the subject. The first debate is in Rodez, south west France, on Thursday.
Tax deadline
If you own property in France, you will need to pay your taxe foncière by October 15th (or October 20th if you're paying online) or risk a fine. The taxe d'habitation - the tax that occupiers pay - is gradually being phased out so many people will no longer be paying that this year. However it is still is place for higher earners and second home owners, so you may be getting a bill for that in October as well. The deadline for payment for this is November 15th by post or November 20th if you're paying online.
Anti-IVF protest
The French parliament last week approved the extension of IVF treatments to single women and lesbian couples. This idea is not universally popular however, and a group of religious and socially conservative groups are calling for street demonstrations on October 6th.
Paperless Metro
If you're in Paris, you are now able to access the Metro simply by swiping your smartphone after the city of Paris launched its new ViaNavigo app. It doesn't work on all types of phone, however.
Building regulations
And from October 1st, regulations come in requiring any new buildings more than three stories high to have an elevator. This replaces the current limit of four stories.
Brexit?
The current Brexit deadline is October 31st and the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it will definitely be happening this time. If you're British and live in France, visit our Brexit section to find out what you need to be doing to prepare.
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Gas prices
Some good news about gas bills- they're set to fall. People on a regulated gas tariff have already seen a 0.9 percent decrease in their bill in September, but that is set to fall again in October, this time by 2.4 percent. The decrease will be 0.6 percent for customers who use gas for cooking, 1.4 percent for those who have a dual use, cooking and hot water, and 2.5 percent for fireplaces that use gas.
Retirement plans
There are changes coming in to simplify the plan épargne retraite individuel (PERi) individual retirements savings plan. Separate to the state pension, this allows employees to save for their retirement, but it has been criticised for being too complicated, especially for people who switch between the public and private sectors during their careers.
Pension discussions
Also on the theme of retirement, President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday hosts a 'Grand débat' on the theme of pension plans. The French government is pushing for ambitious reforms to the French pension system, which has already put it on a collision course with unions. Macron hopes that hosting a series of pubic discussions on the subject - as he did during the early days of the 'yellow vest' protests - will calm public anger on the subject. The first debate is in Rodez, south west France, on Thursday.
Tax deadline
If you own property in France, you will need to pay your taxe foncière by October 15th (or October 20th if you're paying online) or risk a fine. The taxe d'habitation - the tax that occupiers pay - is gradually being phased out so many people will no longer be paying that this year. However it is still is place for higher earners and second home owners, so you may be getting a bill for that in October as well. The deadline for payment for this is November 15th by post or November 20th if you're paying online.
Anti-IVF protest
The French parliament last week approved the extension of IVF treatments to single women and lesbian couples. This idea is not universally popular however, and a group of religious and socially conservative groups are calling for street demonstrations on October 6th.
Paperless Metro
If you're in Paris, you are now able to access the Metro simply by swiping your smartphone after the city of Paris launched its new ViaNavigo app. It doesn't work on all types of phone, however.
Building regulations
And from October 1st, regulations come in requiring any new buildings more than three stories high to have an elevator. This replaces the current limit of four stories.
Brexit?
The current Brexit deadline is October 31st and the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it will definitely be happening this time. If you're British and live in France, visit our Brexit section to find out what you need to be doing to prepare.
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