How to Know Your Tax Number in France in 2027 ?

Updated: September 16, 2026 – How to find, obtain or recover your French tax number

If you are living, working, investing or conducting business in France, understanding your French tax identification number is essential.

Known as the numéro fiscal, this identifier is used by the French tax administration for your personal tax procedures and access to your online tax account.

Whether you are a French resident, a non-resident with French-source income, a new taxpayer or someone who has simply forgotten their number, there are several ways to find or obtain it.

What Is a French Tax Number?

The French tax number (numéro fiscal) is an individual identification number issued by the Direction générale des Finances publiques (DGFiP).

For individuals, it consists of 13 digits and is used as the main identifier for accessing your personal Finances publiques account and carrying out tax-related procedures online.

It can be required for procedures involving:

income-tax returns;
income-tax assessments;
property-tax matters;
the French withholding-tax system;
your online tax account;
tax payments;
correspondence with the French tax authorities;
certain procedures involving non-resident taxpayers.

Your tax number is personal and individual.

For example, married or PACS partners each have their own tax number, even when they belong to the same tax household.

How Many Digits Does a French Tax Number Have?

For an individual taxpayer, the French numéro fiscal contains 13 digits.

This is different from other identifiers that appear on French tax documents.

You may also see:

Numéro fiscal: 13 digits;
Numéro d’accès en ligne: generally 7 digits;
Revenu fiscal de référence (RFR): the reference taxable-income amount shown on your tax assessment.

These numbers serve different purposes and should not be confused.

The online access number is not your tax number. It is another identifier used in certain account-creation procedures.

Where Can You Find Your French Tax Number?

If you have already dealt with the French tax administration, your numéro fiscal can usually be found on your tax documents.

On Your Income Tax Return

Look at the top of the first page of your latest income-tax return.

The tax number appears alongside the other identification information.

The DGFiP confirms that the number is displayed on the first page of the income-tax return.

On Your Tax Assessment Notice

Your tax number also appears on your avis d’impôt.

It is generally displayed in the “Vos références” section at the top of the document.

This can include your income-tax assessment and certain local-tax documents.

In Your Online Finances publiques Account

If you already have access to your personal tax account, your tax information and tax documents can be accessed through your espace Finances publiques.

You can use the official impots.gouv.fr authentication system to access your account.

The current authentication page specifically identifies the 13-digit numéro fiscal as the identifier used for connection.

How to Find Your French Tax Number Online If You Forgot It

If you have forgotten your tax number but already have an online account, you do not necessarily need to contact the tax office immediately.

The current DGFiP procedure provides a “Numéro fiscal oublié ?” option.

The process is:

Go to the connection page for your espace Finances publiques.
Select “Numéro fiscal oublié ?”
Enter the email address associated with your account.
Enter your date of birth.
Complete the security verification.
If your mobile number has previously been validated in your profile, enter the verification code received by SMS when requested.
Your tax number can then be sent to you by email.

This is particularly useful if you have lost your tax documents but still have access to the email address associated with your French tax account.

What If You Lost Both Your Tax Number and Password?

If you have forgotten both your numéro fiscal and your password, the DGFiP recommends recovering the tax number first.

Once you have recovered your tax number, you can then use the “Mot de passe oublié ?” procedure to reset your password.

The DGFiP’s current guidance confirms that the password-recovery process requires the tax number and other identification information.

You may also be able to use FranceConnect to access your Finances publiques account if you have an eligible FranceConnect identity provider.

How to Get a French Tax Number for the First Time

If you are a new taxpayer in France and have never received a French tax number, the procedure is different.

You should not assume that you can simply generate a numéro fiscal online yourself.

For a person who does not yet have a tax number, the DGFiP explains that access to the online personal tax account generally follows the filing of a first income-tax return in paper form, accompanied by the required supporting documents. The administration then assigns a tax number.

This is an important correction to older versions of this article that presented Form 2043 as a universal online procedure for every new taxpayer.

The appropriate procedure depends on your personal situation, particularly whether you are:

a new French resident;
already subject to French income tax;
a non-resident receiving French-source income;
subject to withholding at source;
or already assigned a French tax number but without an online account.

What Documents May Be Required?

When the tax administration needs to establish your identity or create your tax records, you may be asked to provide information such as:

full name;
date and place of birth;
postal address;
identity document;
information concerning your tax situation;
supporting documents relating to your income or residence.

For certain account-creation situations, the DGFiP can require an identity check before allowing online access. This can involve providing your civil-status information, postal address and a copy of an identity document.

The exact documents depend on your circumstances.

How Can a Non-Resident Get a French Tax Number?

You do not necessarily need to live in France to have a French tax number.

A non-resident taxpayer can have French tax obligations because, for example, they receive French-source income or own certain taxable assets in France.

The Direction des impôts des non-résidents (DINR) confirms that non-residents who already have a tax number can create a personal Finances publiques account using their identification information.

For non-residents, the three identifiers normally used to create an online account are:

the 13-digit numéro fiscal;
the 7-digit numéro d’accès en ligne;
the revenu fiscal de référence shown on the tax assessment.

In certain situations, FranceConnect can also be used.

What If You Are a Non-Resident and Do Not Have a French Tax Number?

The procedure is different if you have never been assigned a French tax number.

The French tax administration’s 2026 guidance explains that certain non-residents can request access to an online Finances publiques account when they:

have income subject to French withholding at source; or
have a tax number but are not liable for income tax or IFI and are subject to another French tax, such as property tax or tax on a secondary residence.

The DINR provides a dedicated procedure for these situations.

A non-resident should therefore determine why they are subject to French taxation before choosing the appropriate administrative procedure.

Can You Find Your French Tax Number Through FranceConnect?

FranceConnect can be used to access certain French government online services, including the Finances publiques space.

However, FranceConnect is an authentication method and should not be confused with the French tax number itself.

Your numéro fiscal remains your personal 13-digit identifier within the French tax administration system.

What Should You Do If Your Tax Number Has Been Deactivated?

In some circumstances, a tax number can be technically deactivated.

The DGFiP explains that if your tax number has been deactivated for technical reasons, you should contact your centre des Finances publiques.

The administration can provide a new tax number, after which you may need to create a new online Finances publiques account.

This is different from simply forgetting your tax number.

What If You Cannot Recover Your Tax Number Online?

If the online recovery procedure does not work, you can contact the French tax authorities.

The DGFiP currently provides the following assistance number for individuals:

0 809 401 401

The service is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is not subject to a premium-rate charge.

You should be prepared to provide sufficient information to establish your identity.

Depending on the situation, you can also contact your relevant service des impôts des particuliers (SIP) or, for non-resident matters, the appropriate non-resident tax service.

French Tax Number vs Social Security Number

A common mistake among international residents is confusing their French tax number with their social-security number.

They are completely different identifiers.

The:

Numéro fiscal

is issued and used by the French tax administration (DGFiP).

The:

Numéro de sécurité sociale

is associated with the French social-security system and healthcare/social-protection administration.

An employer, bank, accountant or government administration may therefore request different identification numbers depending on the procedure involved.

Is the French Tax Number the Same as the Tax Assessment Reference?

No.

Your numéro fiscal and the référence de l’avis are different numbers.

For example, the French online verification service for tax assessments asks for both:

the 13-digit tax number; and
the 13-digit reference number appearing on the tax assessment.

They should not be confused when completing an administrative or financial procedure.

Why Is Your French Tax Number Important?

Your numéro fiscal is particularly important if you:

file French income taxes;
work in France;
receive French-source income;
own French real estate;
pay French property taxes;
need to access your online tax account;
communicate with the DGFiP;
manage French tax payments;
live abroad but remain subject to certain French tax obligations.

For international individuals, obtaining the correct tax number is often one of the first steps toward managing French tax compliance.

French Tax Number FAQ

How many digits does a French tax number have?

A personal French tax number contains 13 digits. It is an individual identifier issued by the French tax administration.

Where is my French tax number?

You can generally find it at the top of the first page of your latest income-tax return and on your tax assessment notices.

Can I recover my French tax number online?

Yes. If you already have an online Finances publiques account and have forgotten your number, the “Numéro fiscal oublié ?” procedure can allow you to receive it by email after providing the requested identification information.

What if I have never had a French tax number?

The procedure depends on your tax situation. A first-time taxpayer may need to submit a first income-tax return before an online account can be created, while specific procedures exist for certain non-residents and taxpayers subject to French withholding or other taxes.

Is the French tax number the same for a married couple?

No. Each spouse or PACS partner has their own individual tax number, even when they belong to the same tax household.

Is the numéro fiscal the same as the online access number?

No. The numéro fiscal is a 13-digit individual identifier. The numéro d’accès en ligne is a separate identifier, generally consisting of 7 digits, used in certain account-creation procedures.

Can a non-resident have a French tax number?

Yes. A person does not necessarily need to be resident in France to have French tax obligations and a French tax number. Non-residents with relevant French tax obligations can use the services of the French tax administration and, where eligible, create a Finances publiques account.

Conclusion: How to Know Your Tax Number in France

Your French tax number (numéro fiscal) is a key identifier for dealing with the French tax administration.

If you already pay French taxes, you will normally find your 13-digit numéro fiscal on your income-tax return or tax assessment notice.

If you have forgotten it, the DGFiP now provides an online “Numéro fiscal oublié ?” recovery procedure that can send the number to your email address when the required conditions are met.

If you are a new taxpayer, the process depends on your tax situation and may require a first tax filing or contact with the relevant French tax service.

For non-residents, separate procedures may apply depending on the source of their French tax obligations.

For international individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses, understanding your French tax identifiers is an important part of staying compliant with French tax administration.

ESCEC International can assist international clients with French tax compliance, income taxation, business taxation and the administrative requirements associated with living or doing business in France.

French Tax Number in France: How to Find Your Numéro Fiscal in 2026