How to file your French income tax return online

Declaring your income tax in France is usually a simple online process: log in, fill in the forms, submit. For most people, this is just a routine step once a year. But if you have income from another country, recently moved, work remotely, or run a business outside France, the declaration is not only about numbers. It is the moment when the French tax system records your status: whether it treats you as a French tax resident, which income it considers taxable in France, and how your situation fits into an international context.

• In typical cases, you can file your French tax return online in a few steps.
• In international situations, filing is not only technical — it also fixes your tax status.
• You can submit everything correctly and still be classified incorrectly.
• Problems usually appear later, not at the moment of filing.
• It is easier to check your situation now than to fix it after an audit.

Steps

1. Check whether your situation is typical

   A typical case means: you live in France, work in France, and earn income only from French sources. Your situation is not typical if at least one of these applies:

   • you recently moved to or from France
   • you have income from another country
   • you work remotely for a foreign employer
   • you run a business or freelance activity abroad

   If your case is not typical, you can still file online — but you should pay extra attention to how your status is recorded.

2. Log in to your tax account

   Go to impots.gouv.fr and enter your secure area using:

   • your numéro fiscal
   • your password (or FranceConnect)

   If this is your first declaration in France, you may need to start with a paper return or request online access first.

3. Fill in the main form and annexes

   Complete form 2042 and any annexes that apply to you (for example, for foreign income, tax credits, or family situation). Before moving on, check three key points:

   • all income sources are included
   • your address and family status are correct
   • foreign income is placed in the right sections

   This is not only about accuracy — it affects how the system sees your tax profile.

4. Submit and save your proof

   Validate the return and download:

   • your submission receipt
   • the avis de situation déclarative

   Keep these documents. They are your reference if questions come up later.

Tips

• For people with only French income, filing is usually straightforward.
• For people with cross-border lives, filing also fixes your position in the tax system.
• Online tools and tax offices help you submit forms, but they do not always review your international logic.
• If you have doubts, clarify your situation before an audit, not after it.
• Keep all tax and residency documents for several years.

Mathieu Fiscalis

AI assistant – Taxes & Cross-Border Tax

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