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The Question of the Week
Do you have to file a tax return in 2019 despite the withholding tax?
Publié le null - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The question: I learned that I still had to declare my income this year, although the tax at source has been changed. Can you explain to me why?
Service-public.fr's response: You have to file a return in 2019 to allow the tax authority to update your tax rate, calculate the tax you will have to pay if you had exceptional income in 2018, and take into account any tax reductions and credits you may have.
The declaration is therefore still mandatory in 2019.
This also applies to people who are not taxable because it is essential to be able to receive certain benefits, such as the home tax rebate or the energy check.
Why file a tax return?
The declaration shall allow:
- to take stock of all 2018 income of the tax household (non-exceptional income, which will not be taxed, and exceptional income, which will be taxed) as well as expenses eligible for a tax credit or reduction (the amounts shown are used in particular to determine the down payment of 60% to be paid as of January 2020);
- update your withholding tax rate applicable as of September 2019 (unless you have reported a change in family status since the beginning of the year or reported a drop in your 2019 income, in which case your rate remains applicable throughout the year).
On this occasion you can:
- validate, supplement or correct your marital status information, declare or confirm a change in family status in 2018 (marriage, Civil partnerships, divorce, separation or death of spouse);
- complete or change your bank details if you file online;
- complete the surname, first name, date and place of birth of your children under 15 years of age. This information will be used to assign them a tax number to prepare them for entering the world of work and to make them benefit, from their first income, from the customization of the withholding tax;
- Obtain an income tax notice (supporting documentation required in certain administrative procedures) between late July and early September 2019.
Until when to make a statement?
The deadline for submitting your paper return is Thursday, May 16, 2019 (midnight).
The online reporting service will close according to a calendar depending on your department.
Online reporting is strongly encouraged. Taxpayers whose primary residence is not connected to the Internet or who are unable to do so will be able to continue to use paper, by reporting their situation to the administration.
FYI
The tax administration could make this annual declaration optional next year for taxpayers whose income does not change from one year to the next (almost 8 million households). Self-employed workers (who make a down payment to the administration based on their previous months' income) and taxpayers receiving tax credits or reductions would still need to report.
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