In France, for tax purposes, Brexit now applies.

Since 1 January 2021, the French tax authorities have applied Brexit and treat UK residents as residents outside the European Union.

UK residents must therefore pay, in addition to capital gains tax at 19%, social charges of 17.2% when they sell a property at a gain, or when they receive rental income in France.

When selling a property, we recommend that sellers resident in the United Kingdom contact their French notaire quickly to run simulations of the capital gain and identify any possible exemptions or reductions (in particular for the length of ownership).

David Notaires points out that residents of the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland who can prove that they belong to a social security scheme other than the French one are liable neither for CSG (contribution sociale généralisée) nor for CRDS (contribution au remboursement de la dette sociale).

As for French residents, like the British and other non-EU residents, they are liable for… everything! As our old law professors used to teach us: “Dura lex sed lex”!