Who files taxes in France and when you get money back
In France, you file taxes through the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFP), the national tax authority. You owe a refund when you have paid more tax than you actually owe — usually because your employer withheld too much, or you had income sources that didn't withhold at all. Most employees file once a year between May and June for the previous calendar year.
The French tax year runs January to December. You declare income earned during that year and file the following spring. If you overpaid, the DGFP calculates the refund and sends it to you, typically between July and September of the filing year. The timeline depends on when you file, whether you file online or by paper, and whether the DGFP needs to ask you questions about your return.
Non-residents and foreign workers have different filing rules. If you worked in France for only part of the year, or you are a non-resident with French income, you may still owe a return — contact your local tax office (centre des finances publiques) to confirm your filing requirement.
Key Takeaways
- File your French tax return between May and June each year through the DGFP website or by paper; online filing is faster and more common.
- Refunds typically arrive between July and September, but can take longer if the DGFP requests additional documents or clarification.
- You can track your refund status through your personal tax account on the DGFP website using your login credentials.
- If you are a non-resident or had irregular income, contact your local tax office before the filing deadline to confirm what you must report.
- Refunds are paid by bank transfer to the account you provide on your return; paper checks are no longer used.
Filing your return online versus by paper
Most people in France now file online through the DGFP website at impots.gouv.fr. You log in with your tax account credentials (or create one if you have never filed before). Online filing is faster — the DGFP processes it more quickly and you receive your refund sooner. The filing window typically opens in early May and closes in early June, though the exact dates vary by year and by whether you file on paper.
If you file by paper, you must send your completed tax form (usually the 2042 form for standard employees, or 2042-C if you have additional income) to your local tax office. The deadline for paper filing is usually one or two weeks later than the online deadline. Paper returns take longer to process because they must be scanned and entered into the system manually, so your refund will arrive later — often in August or September rather than July.
You can request a paper form from your local tax office or download it from impots.gouv.fr. If you have a complex return (self-employment income, rental property, investments), you may need additional forms. The DGFP website has a tool to tell you which forms apply to your situation.
What documents you need before you file
Gather your pay stubs (fiches de paie) from every employer you worked for during the year. These show your gross income and the tax already withheld. If you changed jobs, collect stubs from each employer. You will also need your tax notice from the previous year (avis d'imposition), which shows your tax account number and any credits or deductions you claimed before.
If you have income beyond employment — rental income, investment income, self-employment — collect the relevant statements. Rental income requires a summary of expenses and income for the property. Investment income may require brokerage statements or bank interest notices. If you made charitable donations, have receipts or donation letters showing the amount and the organisation's tax status.
Keep your identity document (passport or national ID) handy when you log into your tax account online. If you are filing for the first time or have moved, you may need to provide proof of residence (a utility bill or rental agreement dated within the last three months).
How to track your refund after you file
Once you file online, the DGFP sends you a confirmation email. Log back into your account at impots.gouv.fr and look for your personal tax account (espace personnel). Under "Mes documents" or "Suivi de ma situation", you can see the status of your return. The system shows whether the DGFP has received and processed your filing, and whether a refund has been calculated.
If you filed by paper, the confirmation takes longer — usually two to three weeks after the office receives it. You can call your local tax office to confirm receipt, though they may not have processed it yet. Once processed, you can check the same online account to see your refund status.
The DGFP does not send a separate refund notification. Instead, the money appears in your bank account without warning. Check your account regularly starting in July if you filed online, or in August if you filed by paper. If you provided an incorrect bank account number on your return, the transfer will fail and the DGFP will contact you by mail to ask for the correct details.
When the DGFP asks for more information
Sometimes the tax authority needs clarification before it can process your refund. You may receive a letter asking for additional documents — for example, proof of a deduction you claimed, or clarification about income you reported. This delay is common and does not mean you did anything wrong. Respond to the letter within the deadline stated (usually 30 days) and send the requested documents to the address on the letter.
If you filed online and the DGFP has questions, you may also see a message in your online account asking you to upload documents directly. This is faster than mailing them. Upload the files and the DGFP will review them. Processing resumes once they receive and verify your response, which can add two to four weeks to your timeline.
If you do not respond to a request for information, the DGFP will process your return based on what you reported, but it may disallow certain deductions or income adjustments. This could reduce your refund or, in rare cases, result in a bill instead. Always respond to DGFP correspondence, even if you think the request is unnecessary.
Refunds for non-residents and foreign workers
If you are not a French resident but earned income in France, you may still owe a tax return. Non-residents typically file using the 2042-NR form instead of the standard 2042. The filing deadline and refund timeline are the same as for residents, but the process can be more complex if you have income from multiple countries or if your home country has a tax treaty with France.
Non-residents should contact their local tax office before the filing deadline to confirm what they must report. Some income (such as employment income) is taxed in France; other income may be taxed in your home country instead, depending on the treaty. Filing incorrectly can delay your refund or trigger a tax audit.
If you worked in France for only part of the year, you still file a full-year return but report only the income you earned during the months you worked. Your employer's withholding should reflect this, but if it does not, you may be owed a larger refund. Bring your pay stubs to your local tax office if you are unsure whether you must file.
What to do if your refund does not arrive on time
Refunds typically arrive within two to three months of filing online, or three to four months if you filed by paper. If you have not received your money by mid-September (for an online filing) or early October (for paper), check your online account first. Confirm that the DGFP processed your return and that the refund status shows as "paid" or "sent".
If the status shows the refund was sent but you have not received it, contact your bank. The transfer may have been delayed or sent to an old account if you provided incorrect details. The DGFP can resend the transfer if your bank confirms it was never received.
If your online account shows no refund has been calculated, or if the status is unclear, call your local tax office. Have your tax account number and return details ready. They can tell you whether the DGFP is still processing your return, whether it needs additional information from you, or whether there is an error in your filing. Processing times can vary significantly depending on how busy the office is and whether your return triggered any automated checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file my French tax return in English?
The DGFP website and forms are available in French only. However, you can file your return in French even if you do not speak it fluently — the forms are straightforward and many expat communities provide guides in English. If you need help understanding the forms, contact your local tax office; some offices have English-speaking staff, though this is not may provide.
What if I worked in France for only a few months?
You still file a full-year return and report only the income you earned during the months you worked. Your employer withholds tax based on your pay, so if you worked for only part of the year, you may be owed a refund because the withholding was calculated as if you worked the full year. Bring your pay stubs to confirm the dates you worked.
Do I need to file if I had very little income?
Filing is required if your income exceeds a certain threshold, which varies by year and by your personal situation (age, dependents, marital status). Contact your local tax office or check the DGFP website to confirm whether you must file. If you are unsure, filing does not hurt — if you owe nothing, you will simply receive a notice saying so.
Can I file my return before May?
No, the DGFP does not accept returns before the filing window opens in May. You can prepare your documents and log into your account to see what information the system already has, but you cannot submit your return until the official date. Filing as soon as the window opens means your refund will arrive sooner.
What happens if I made a mistake on my return after I filed?
You can file an amended return (déclaration rectificative) through your online account or by paper. The DGFP will recalculate your tax based on the corrected information. If the amendment results in a larger refund, you will receive the difference. If it results in a bill, you will be asked to pay the additional tax owed.