we are considering moving to france, please help

[kurt&leigh]

hi
we are a family of 4, kids are 8 and nearly 6 we were wondering about schooling and how we go about getting the kids into them as i can only find a few international schools online, can anyone tell us if we'd be able to go to state school or is it just international as we speak on french yet.
I am considering still working in the uk and commuting to france it could be for a week at a time or 8 weeks what taxes would i pay.
Thanks for your time and help
Kurt

[Bevdeforges]

Your kids should have no problem attending French public schools. When you move in to your new home, just go in to the mairie (town hall) and ask about enrolling the children in school. They should be able to get you all signed up. They may let your kids "sink or swim" a bit, at least at first, to see how quickly they pick up the language - but the French schools do have extra help for non-French speaking kids.

Commuting back and forth to the UK will complicate your tax situation. If your family is living in France and you have your "primary centers of interest" there, then you'll be considered "tax resident" in France and technically your employer should be withholding your social payments and remitting them to the French government. How thrilled they'll be about doing that is anyone's guess - but you may want to talk to your employer's personnel department to see what they can tell you about the arrangement. If they've done it before, no problem - but if not, they may ask you to sort out some of the administration.

You may wind up having to establish a personal business in France, which would put you on a sort of "contractor" basis (i.e. you handle your own social payments and taxes). Royal PITA to get set up - but once it's up and running, it's just a paperwork thing.

If you maintain your tax home in the UK, you won't be eligible for the French national health program, nor will your family, which means you'll have to head back to the UK for medical treatment other than emergency care.
Cheers,
Bev

[kurt&leigh]

Thanks bev
Thats something we will have to look at.
Thanks again
Kurt and leigh

[giantpanda]

Originally Posted by kurt&leigh

hi
we are a family of 4, kids are 8 and nearly 6 we were wondering about schooling and how we go about getting the kids into them as i can only find a few international schools online, can anyone tell us if we'd be able to go to state school or is it just international as we speak on french yet.
I am considering still working in the uk and commuting to france it could be for a week at a time or 8 weeks what taxes would i pay.
Thanks for your time and help
Kurt

Hi!

First look at this:

http://www.expatforum.com/expats/new...wreply&p=20836

As regards the tax situation, you would then be considered as a French fiscal resident ( NB. Now with the new ruling, you can be a fiscal resident in several countries ).

It would imply:

that you have to do a French Income tax return - ie. delcare your GB income and the taxes paid, which certainly on your case, would hardly mean any French taxes, unless you have interest or stock and shares.

Notwithstanding I would suggest you go to the local Health Insurance CPAM ( before making the move ) to clear your situation.
It refers to the E106 - I do not know the GB side - you will be able to get one - but can it be renewed in GB after 2 years, because that would be the base for French health coverage. And you would be able to run yyour children on the GB insurance.

Yours,

giantpanda