Tax joy for france investors

Good news for overseas investors this week as France launches a new tax incentive...

Aimed at boosting the construction industry in France by tempting people to invest in new or redeveloped housing, the new incentive has been included in the amended 2008 Finance Law.

The new initiative allows individuals to reduce their income tax either by investing in property directly, or via a property investment company, or SCPI (sociétés civiles de placement immobilier). The two options available for investors differ slightly:

- For any money directly invested in a new or redeveloped residence in 2009 or 2010, individuals may benefit either from a reduction in tax of 25% of the sales price, spread over a period of nine years, or may elect to ‘absorb' their costs under the existing Robien scheme.

- For any investment in shares obtained via the SCPI, however, individuals will only be entitled to a reduction in tax of 25% of the sum invested.

In both cases, the 25% reduction in tax is spread over nine years. Individuals will also have the option of a further two three-year periods at 2% per year, although a maximum deduction of 37% over 15 years will be implemented.

Individual investors will benefit from income tax reductions up to a threshold of €300,000 (£) invested in shares per tax year.

Anyone who buys property in France before December 31 2009 will be entitled to reduce their 2009 income tax accordingly.

Source: www.homesoverseas.co.uk