How do I file my French tax return online?

Most French residents must file an annual income tax return (déclaration de revenus) with the DGFiP. Filing is done online at impots.gouv.fr, where you log in with your numéro fiscal (tax reference number) found on any previous tax notice or correspondence.

For salaried employees, much of the return is pre-filled (déclaration pré-remplie) with data supplied by employers and banks. You review the figures, correct any errors, add income not pre-filled (rental income, freelance earnings, foreign income), and submit. The deadline is typically in late May or early June, with the exact date varying by department.

If you are filing for the first time, you register at impots.gouv.fr and receive your numéro fiscal. First-time filers who did not file in the previous year may need to file a paper return (Formulaire 2042) sent to their local tax office (Service des Impôts des Particuliers).

Once submitted, the tax administration calculates what you owe or the refund due and sends a tax notice (avis d'imposition) in late summer. Tax is paid in two instalments or by monthly direct debit (mensualisation) starting from the following year.