How homeowners successfully challenged french property tax rise

WE EXPLAIN HOW TO SPOT INCORRECT ASSUMPTIONS ON YOUR TAXE FONCIÈRE BILL If your _taxe foncière_ bill saw a steep hike last year, it is worth scrutinising it to find out why, as a successful

legal challenge has shown. First, however, check whether the rise was solely due to your local council increasing the percentage rate that it applies. You can see this rate on the second

page of your _avis d’impôt _listed as_ taux 2023_. For comparison, the _taux 2022_ should also be shown next to it. For example, if the rate changed from 20% to 30%, this would explain a 50%

rise in your bill. READ MORE: WAS YOUR FRENCH TAXE FONCIÈRE BILL HIGH THIS YEAR? CHECK FOR A REFUND TAX OFFICE DECIDED PROPERTIES HAD IMPROVED IN ‘COMFORT’ However, a successfully contested

increase in Isère (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) related to a rise in the theoretical annual rental value of around 30 local properties. This _valeur locative cadastrale_ (VLC) is divided by two to

obtain the _base_ (basis) of the _taxe foncière_, to which the council rate is applied to obtain the tax bill. If the base listed for your property on page two of the bill increased

compared to 2022 and you did not declare any improvements, such as an extension or a new swimming pool, this is the point to raise with your local property tax office. In the case of the

Isère properties, whose tax increased by 15%, the tax office decided that the properties had improved in ‘comfort’ since their last evaluation decades ago. The owners argued this was

unjustifiable without pre-warning and consultation – and without a site visit. The _tribunal administratif_ court agreed and ordered the owners to be reimbursed. RELATED ARTICLES KEY CHANGES

FOR INCOME AND PROPERTY TAX IN FRANCE IN 2024 CAN I CHECK IF I HAVE RECEIVED AGE RELIEF ON FRENCH PROPERTY TAX? WILL I BE CHARGED TAXE FONCIÈRE ON MY EMPTY FRENCH HOME?