People who are going through a difficult situation in life can try to request a graceful remission from the tax authorities. It can happen to anyone.
While online tax declaration began on April 11, 2024, until the end of May or beginning of June depending on the department, the French often dread the moment when they will have to pay. While some taxpayers are exempt from taxes when their annual income is below the scales, others must pay the full price, depending on their situation and the number of dependent children. But it is also possible to ask a small favor from the tax authorities, who can sometimes be quite lenient depending on your personal situation.
Indeed, certain life situations can be taken into account in this process which could allow you not to pay tax this year or to considerably reduce costs. This is a request for a free discount, which must be sent to your Public Finance Center, and which will be carefully studied on a case-by-case basis. “Free requests may relate to all or part of direct taxes and penalties regardless of the tax in question” specifies the government website. But these requests can be granted in certain very specific situations.
You can apply for a graceful tax remission when you encounter financial difficulties that prevent you from paying your taxes. For example, if you have suffered a job loss, serious health issues, or significant unexpected expenses, then you may be eligible for a graceful rebate. Certain exceptional circumstances are also taken into account in these requests, such as the death of a spouse, separation or disability.
To make a request, you generally need to send a letter to the tax authorities in which you explain your financial situation and the reasons why you are requesting a graceful rebate. It is important to include supporting documents, such as bank statements, medical certificates or termination letters, to support your claim. The tax authorities will examine your request and take into account your financial situation as well as the exceptional circumstances that you have presented. If your request is accepted, part or all of your tax debt may be canceled or reduced.
It is essential to make your request within the deadlines set by the tax authorities and to provide all the necessary documents to support your request. Generally, the request for free delivery is considered rejected within two months without a response. If your application is refused, you can sometimes appeal the decision or request a payment plan to spread your payments over a longer period of time.