Property & non-residents
Buying and owning property on the French Riviera from abroad — without the tax surprises.
A flat in Nice, a villa between Saint-Tropez and Menton, a rental property in Antibes: every year, buyers from the UK, Italy, Switzerland, Scandinavia and the United States discover after signing what they should have decided before. We step in early and stay with you for as long as you own the property, in English, French or Italian, working alongside your notaire, your lawyer and your advisers at home.
Free 10-minute first call, answer within 48 hours.
What we do for you
1. Before you buy: choosing the right way to hold the property
The most important decision comes before you sign. Owning in your own name, jointly, in undivided shares, through a split of usufruct and bare ownership, or through a French property-holding company (SCI) has different consequences for income tax, the French wealth tax on property (IFI), inheritance and resale — and those consequences also depend on your country of residence and its tax treaty with France.
- Comparison of direct ownership / SCI / usufruct split for your situation
- Incorporation of the SCI and formalities, together with the notaire
- Financing: what a French bank asks of a non-resident, and what we prepare
- Tax-treaty and tax-residency check
2. While you own: your French obligations, taken care of
A non-resident owner has annual obligations in France even without any French income. We identify them and keep them up to date on your behalf.
- Non-resident income tax return for French rental income
- Furnished lettings: LMNP status, depreciation, accounts and filings
- French wealth tax on property (IFI) on French assets
- Annual occupancy declaration, second-home council tax, property tax
- SCI bookkeeping and filings (annual general meeting, form 2072)
- Holiday lettings: registration, local rules, VAT where applicable
- Replies to the French tax authorities, in your name
3. When you sell or pass it on: plan ahead rather than react
- Capital gains tax for non-residents: calculation, taper relief, possible exemptions, tax representative where required
- Succession: gifts, cross-border inheritance, interaction with the law of your home country, together with the notaire
- Exit from or winding-up of an SCI
Why us
Three working languages. You discuss, sign and receive your documents in English, French or Italian, with the same team from start to finish.
Cross-border files every day, including a strong Franco-Italian practice.
A regulated firm, registered with the French Ordre des Experts-Comptables, insured and accountable for what it files — working hand in hand with your notaire and lawyer.
A clear engagement letter: an annual fixed fee that lists exactly which filings are covered.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file anything in France if I don’t rent the property out?
In most cases, yes: the occupancy declaration, local taxes, IFI above the threshold, and SCI obligations if you own through a company. We draw up the exact list for your situation.
Do I need an SCI to buy in France as a foreigner?
No, it is never compulsory. It is useful in some cases and counter-productive in others, depending on your country of residence and your plans. That is why the decision belongs before the purchase.
Will I be taxed twice, in France and at home?
France’s tax treaties exist precisely to avoid that: as a rule, property income and gains are taxable where the property is located, and your home country takes that into account. We coordinate with your local adviser.
Can you work with my notaire or my lawyer?
Yes — that is how we normally work.