Second home owners in France face tax hikes of up to 60 percent
Towns and villages through France are raising property tax rates for second-home owners, with many areas voting for the maximum 60 percent increase.
Even though France's taxe d’habitation (householders' tax) is in the process of being phased out for most French residents, second-home owners are still required to pay it.
This year more towns have voted to increase it, and others have recently gained the ability to add a surcharge for second-home owners, with French daily Le Parisien reporting that the residence tax "continues to soar."
Municipalities in zones tendues (areas with a housing shortage) have the ability to choose to increase taxe d'habitation by up to 60 percent for second home owners.
From 2023, several new areas - including Nantes - will join the list of zones tendues, meaning they will be able to vote to increase taxes for second-home owners.
This year, large cities such as Bordeaux, Lyon, Biarritz, Arles and Saint-Jean-de-Luz saw their city councils vote to increase the tax at the maximum 60 percent.
READ MORE: Why some French cities are increasing taxes for second-home owners
Some areas have still not chosen to apply the increase, but those looking to buy a second home in France should beware that these municipalities could vote to increase the taxe d'habitation in the future.
In 2020, cities on average voted to increase the residence tax on second homes by €248.50, in comparison to €217 in 2017. This year, that amount is expected to be even higher.
On top of the taxe d'habitation, second-home owners also have to pay the separate taxe foncière property tax, which is itself rising sharply in many areas.
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Even though France's taxe d’habitation (householders' tax) is in the process of being phased out for most French residents, second-home owners are still required to pay it.
This year more towns have voted to increase it, and others have recently gained the ability to add a surcharge for second-home owners, with French daily Le Parisien reporting that the residence tax "continues to soar."
Municipalities in zones tendues (areas with a housing shortage) have the ability to choose to increase taxe d'habitation by up to 60 percent for second home owners.
From 2023, several new areas - including Nantes - will join the list of zones tendues, meaning they will be able to vote to increase taxes for second-home owners.
This year, large cities such as Bordeaux, Lyon, Biarritz, Arles and Saint-Jean-de-Luz saw their city councils vote to increase the tax at the maximum 60 percent.
READ MORE: Why some French cities are increasing taxes for second-home owners
Some areas have still not chosen to apply the increase, but those looking to buy a second home in France should beware that these municipalities could vote to increase the taxe d'habitation in the future.
In 2020, cities on average voted to increase the residence tax on second homes by €248.50, in comparison to €217 in 2017. This year, that amount is expected to be even higher.
On top of the taxe d'habitation, second-home owners also have to pay the separate taxe foncière property tax, which is itself rising sharply in many areas.
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