Filing taxes during a working holiday in France (Canadians + others)

Taxes can be confusing, regardless of where you’re from and where you are. Fortunately, a few members of the pvtistes team have done a working holiday in France. They are sharing their tax knowledge with you in this guide.

First things first

Anyone who worked in France in the tax year and is 18 years or older must declare taxes (official source).

For your first tax season in France, you must fill out your declaration on paper. Since you do not have a French fiscal number yet, you cannot file taxes online.

As of your second tax season (should you somehow extend your stay in France), you are able to file your taxes online. There is also an app that you can download.

Steps for filing by paper

1. Go to this official website for the tax forms.

2. If you worked as a regular salaried employee (this applies to most people), you will download and print the 2042 form: Déclaration de revenus. Make sure you select the correct tax year’s form.

3. Pages 1 and 2 are about personal information and civil status. Read everything carefully and complete both pages.

4. Page 3 is where you will need to fill out your earnings, namely in box 1AJ. As a salaried employee, you would have received monthly pay stubs throughout your employment period. Look at the last pay stub you got in the tax year and find the cumulative annual taxable net income (something like montant net imposable, cumulatif annuel). Enter this in box 1AJ. Because this figure is cumulative, you don’t need to add any monthly amounts manually – your employer has done it for you.

5. Other boxes (on page 3 and beyond) are less common for WHV holders, but fill them out if any other sources of income apply to you.

6. Check to see if any other less common forms apply to you. For example, if you also worked as a freelancer in France (auto-entrepreneur), you would also need to fill out form 2042-C-PRO.

Once your declaration form is completed, also prepare photocopies of your passport, Working Holiday Visa, rental agreement or other approved form of proof of address, and RIB (relevé d’identité bancaire, bank account coordinates).

Either drop off your file at the nearest public finance office (find yours here), or mail it to them by post.

Congratulations, you’ve just filed your taxes in France!

FAQ

If I do my taxes in my country of origin, do I still need to do so in France?

Yes, if you worked and earned money in France then you must declare those earnings in France regardless.

What is the deadline for filing my taxes in France?

The deadlines are usually in late May and early June. Your specific deadline depends on which zone in France you live in, and it also changes from year to year. There is a separate earlier deadline for paper declarations. Consult this page to see the deadlines for your zone and filing type.

Who should I contact if I have other questions about French taxes?

For additional inquiries, please contact Impôts Service.