Did you know that when your customers embark on home improvements and renovations, they can claim support for their project?
The information is sometimes difficult to procure and then there is the question as to whether, as an Expat, we are entitled to any of these aids. To answer these questions CAPEB Bretagne have come up with a downloadable guide for artisans to enable them to understand what these aids are and how to advise clients on how to get them.
It is not easy to find the correct information in the myriad of housing aids that exist today in France. They are very varied and their modalities change regularly. For artisans who provide a service in France for Expat clients though it is worth informing yourselves correctly so you can effectively advise your customers as to whether they could benefit from any savings when it comes to work on their home. This would surely be of interest certainly to those Expats who have a permenant residence in France and definitely for those who make their tax declarations here.
So whats in the guide?
Well, although in French, the guide gives a clear and concise description of each finiancial aid available in France. The list is as follows:
1. Crédit d’Impôt pour la Transition Énergétique (CITE)
2. L’Eco prêt à taux zéro (éco PTZ)
3. La TVA à taux réduit
4. Le programme « Habiter mieux » de l’Anah
5. Le programme « Habiter mieux agilité » de l’Anah
6. Le programme « Habiter mieux » de l’Anah spécifique aux propriétaires bailleurs
7. Les certificats d’économie d’énergie (CEE)
8. Le chèque énergie
9. L’exonération de taxe foncière
10. Les aides des collectivités locales
11. Les aides des caisses de retraite
12. Les prêts pour améliorer l’habitat
This list is exhaustive and does not apply to everyone and of course every situation is different. However, the reduction of TVA down from 20% to 10% or even 5.5% is open to everyone who has a house in France, it is simply a matter of identifying the conditions to which each reduction is applicable. A reduction to 10% TVA for example applies to improvement, transformation, development and maintenance work (installation of a fitted kitchen, renovation of a facade, maintenance of a boiler, conversion into dwellings of premises previously assigned to another use) and not to construction and reconstruction work. The property also has to be more than two years old to qualify for any reduction in TVA on works carried out.
The 10% rate also concerns services and raw materials when they are supplied and billed by the service provider as part of the service provided.
The contractor, however, must have his client complete and sign a certificate or ‘attestation simplifié’ before drawing up any invoice as this document allows the company to justify the application of the reduced or intermediate rate. Artisan and client must keep a copy of this attestation for up to 5 years following the work being carried out.
Other aids from the list above which may also be applicable to clients who simply own property in France ( even if it is a second home ) are Les certificats d’économie d’énergie (CEE) and L’exonération de taxe foncière. To find out if your client is able to benefit from these savings you should advise them to contact their local ‘Service Impots’ and they will be able to inform them of what steps are needed to make a claim.
The other financial aids on the list above are applicable only to those who have chosen to declare taxes in France and can therefore benefit from the governemental schemes which exist for each home owner adapted to his or her situation. L’Eco prêt à taux zéro for example is a loan given by the bank for energy saving work carried out on a principle residence and can be for up to 3 different types of energy saving improvements, such as heating, insulation and replacement of windows and doors for an amount of up to 30,000 euros at a 0% interest rate. A word of advice though, banks have a quota each year so the earlier in the year the eco Prêt à taux zéro is applied for the better chance you have of securing one!
If you would like a copy of the CAPEB guide sending to you, do not hesitate to contact us. Otherwise you can download a copy here: https://blog.capeb.fr/bretagne/aide-fiscale-artisan-batiment
