Brexit: a list of questions / answers for the individuals
The DGFiP brings you answers on the tax consequences of the new relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
1- I hold British titles in my PEA, what happens after the Brexit?
To be considered as eligible for the PEA and the PEA for small and medium enterprises (PEA-PME), the titles must be held by companies whose main office is located in a Member State of the European Union (EU) or in another State party of the European Economic Area (EEA) which has concluded a fiscal convention with France which contains a clause of administrative assistance in order to fight against tax cheating or tax evasion (4° of the I of the article L. 221-31 of the Monetary and Financial Code and 5 of Article L.221-32-2 of the same code).
This condition related to the head office of the company that emits the titles is evaluated on a permanent basis. Consequently, the titles emitted by British companies will no longer be eligible for the PEA and PEA¬PME.
Holding such titles in the PEA or in the PEA-PME would therefore represent a violation of the functioning rules of the plan, causing it to be closed in principal (article 1765 of the General Tax Code – CGI).
However, the ordinance n°2020-1595 of 16th December 2020 and its executive decree of 22nd December 2020 organize a 9-month adaptation period as from 1st January 2021 during which these titles stay eligible for the PEA and the PEA-PME in order to give the necessary time for their regularization (sale or withdrawal of these titles from the plan).
If I am a UK resident, the conditions for taxation of my PEA in the case of retirement, redemption or closure do not change. Therefore, the dividends earned on the plan are not liable to the deduction at Source stipulated in article 119 bis 2 of the CGI at the rate of 12.8%, with exception made for dividends paid by non-listed French companies.
2- How will the exit tax system apply to the transfer of domicile to the United Kingdom (domicile already transferred or future transfer of domicile)?
The term “exit tax” provides the transfer of tax residence outside France leads to the immediate imposition of the income tax and the social security contributions on hidden capital gains on the company’s rights, values, titles or rights, the credits coming from an additional price clause and the surpluses in deferral of taxation (article 167 bis of the general tax code).
A deferral of payment is provided automatically, for the departures on the 1st of January 2019, when the taxpayer transfers his fiscal residence outside France to a Member State of the European Union (EU) or to another State party to the agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) which has concluded with France an administrative assistance agreement to prevent tax fraud and tax evasion and a mutual assistance agreement for tax collection. In other cases, the deferral is given on the express request of the taxpayer and subject to the provision of guarantees.
In addition, for the departures intervening as from the 1st of January 2019, the benefit of the deferment of payment is applied automatically, without the establishment of any guaranties, for the departures to a Member State of the European Union or to any State or territory having concluded with France a convention of administrative assistance in order to prevent fraud and tax evasion as well as a convention of mutual assistance in terms of recovering.
As the UK has legal instruments for assistance in tax recovery and the prevention of tax fraud that are similar to those existing between EU member states, the British companies will be dispensed from the designation of a tax representation and the automatic deferral of payment without the provision of guarantees will be applicable.
3 – Can I continue to donate to British non-profit organizations (NPOs) and keep benefiting from the tax reduction for donations / the tax reduction on property wealth?
Donations and payments made to non-profit organizations (NPOs) based in the United Kingdom will no longer be able to obtain the tax reduction for donations or the tax reduction on real property wealth.
As a reminder, the only foreign organizations that are eligible are those whose seat is located in a Member State of the European Union (EU) or in another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) that has signed an administrative assistance agreement with France to combat tax fraud and evasion.
4 – What will be the tax regime of the capital gain made by an individual seller who has become a French resident upon the sale of his old main residence in the UK?
All of the capital gains realized by a French resident are taken into consideration for the tax on the income and the social deductions, whether the property sold be situated in France or in the United Kingdom. However, in the second case, according to the Franco-British tax agreement of 19th June 2008, this contributor benefits from a tax deduction that is equal to the British tax paid on the same gain and that can be claimed against the French tax due. In the case where the British source real estate capital gain would be exempt, no tax Credit would be available in France under the terms of this Franco-British tax agreement.
However, the exemption granted to the cession of a principal residence is liable to be applied when the property has constituted the principal residence occupied by the seller until it is up for sale, that it has been kept free of any occupation until the sale and that the cession happens within a normal time frame (cf. §190 of the BOI-RFPI-PVI-10-40-10 for the evaluation of this condition).
5 – What will be the situation in the United Kingdom regarding the social deductions on the income of property?
As from the 1 st of January 2021, British residents will no longer enjoy the exemption from the GSC (general social contribution) and the CRSD (contribution for the recovery of the social debt) based on the income from property, as the United Kingdom will no longer be governed by the provisions of the European regulation (EC) n° 883/2004 on the coordination of the social security systems.
As a result, the income earned of the property will be subjected to social security deductions at the global rate of 17.2%.
6 – the UK tax residents will be, like all tax residents of non-European Economic Area countries, obliged to nominate an authorised tax representative at the time of property sales made in France, in accordance with the provisions of article 244 bis A of the French General Tax Code?
According to the terms of the articles 244 bis A and 244 bis B of the CGI, the United Kingdom no longer belongs to the European Union or the European Economic Area, so the seller who is domiciled or has its registered office in the United Kingdom will have to name a tax representatif
However, it should be reminded that individuals whose tax residence is in the United Kingdom are exempt from naming an authorized representative when they sell a property located in France:
– whose the sale price does not reach 150 000 €, or
– benefiting on the basis of the capital gain made from a total exemption of taxation, regarding both the income tax and the social deductions, taking into consideration the period during which the property is held, under the terms of I of the article 150 VC of the CGI and of 2 of VI of the article L. 136-7 of the Social Security Code (CSS), or
– benefiting from the capital gains exemption stipulated in 1 of I of article 244 bis A of the CGI for the sale of the primary residence (see BOI, RFPI-PVINR-30-20, n° 170 to 225).
7 – I bought a vehicle in the UK that I want to register in France, are there any new modalities regarding the Brexit?
With the Brexit, customs formalities will have to be fulfilled every time you trade with the UK.
The new vehicle registration system (VRS) obliges you to register your vehicle immediately or to register it in WW if your registration documents are not completed.
Even if it is a used vehicle, you will have to complete customs formalities and settle rights and taxes on the value of the vehicle on the day of its arrival in the EU. This value can be the one indicated on the bill of sale or the one used as a basis for the transaction. If it is not a sale, the taxation will be calculated on the residual value, which is generally the one indicated in the Argus of the Automobile.
At the end of the formalities, the customs will give you a certificate 846 A for the registration of your vehicle in a normal series.
You will find useful information by consulting the customs website, via the following links :
https://vvvvvv.douane.gouv.frifiche/achat-dun-vehicule-letranger-ou-dans-un-dom-com
All the steps are detailed, including those to be completed at other administrations.
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