The Return of the Real Estate Disclosure Form

The real estate declaration resurfaced in 2024 to enable the tax authorities to identify properties that remain subject to the housing tax on second homes and other furnished properties (THRS), as well as taxes on vacant properties. 

This year, this declaration serves the same purposes but has undergone a few changes. Last year, all owners of residential real estate, including those holding property in joint ownership, usufructuaries only, or real estate investment companies (SCI), were required to report their properties through a single channel: the taxpayer’s personal account on the impots.gouv.fr website (under the “Manage My Real Estate” section). However, this digital method deterred many property owners, as only 82% of them fulfilled their reporting obligation. In the interest of inclusivity, the Directorate General of Public Finance (DGFiP) has decided to allow, this year, reporting via a paper form “made available to property owners without Internet access to enable them to report changes in occupants.” No change, no declaration!
 

Last year, all property owners were required to report their real estate holdings. This year, only those who have experienced changes since their last report (such as a change in a property’s occupancy status or a change in tenants) will be required to notify the tax authorities. The others are exempt and therefore do not need to take any action. What remains unchanged...
 

What are the risks of failing to report it? 

The impots.gouv.fr website emphasizes that: “This is indeed a reporting requirement, and as such is subject to penalties (Article 1770 terdecies of the General Tax Code).” 

"A flat-rate fine of 150 euros per business location may thus be imposed in the event of an error, omission, or incomplete reporting." However, the social security administration was keen to point out that "as with any major new reform, the tax authorities are showing leniency and understanding, particularly with regard to the application of penalties." 

"Therefore, no fines for failure to file an occupancy declaration will be imposed for 2023." He added that, once again this year, property owners will not automatically be subject to a fine if they forget to file the declaration. 

In addition, the Ministry of Finance (Bercy) also noted that, as in previous years, various support channels are available, namely: - By phone, at 0 809 401 401 (toll-free + cost of the call), open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. - In person, at the Individual Tax Center nearest your home. - Via secure messaging (select the form “I have a question about the ‘Real Estate’ service” or use the contact information listed in the “Contact and Appointments” section at the top right of this page). - Finally, at public finance centers, self-service computers are available, and taxpayers can “receive personalized assistance as needed.”