Deadline: only a few days left for micro entreprise to switch to auto-entrepreneur in 2012

By Valérie Aston on 27 December 2011 · Viewed 4014 times · Questions

There are only a few days left for existing micro entreprise wishing to switch to the auto entrepreneur regime in 2012. As you may know, changing from one busines regime to the other has to be planned ahead by asking RSI or URSSAF to switch on the 1st January of the following year. So, in order to switch over to an auto-entreprise in 2012, you will have to send a formal letter to RSI or URSSAF by 31st December 2011. Here is how it works.

Advantages of the auto-entrepreneur, also called Regime Micro Social

  • Your social charges are paid according to your real turnover using quarterly or monthly declarations.
  • Your social charges rate have a fixed-rate: 12% of your turnover for trade, food and accommodation, 21.3% for crafts or manual services and 18.3% for intellectual services
  • There is no lump sum to pay off in N+1 as per the regime micro (regularisation de charges sociales)
  • If your business has slowed down in 2011 compared to 2010, your social charges contribution are still based on a good year, hence being tough on your cash flow. Opting for the regime micro social means that you will be paying as and when you are earning.

You cannot apply for Regime Micro Social if:

  • You have a SARL or EURL 
  • You are TVA registered

How to apply for the regime micro social

For activities relating to trade (shop, markets, online shops, B&B) and crafts, you can apply online on the auto entrepreneur website under the Optez pour le reglement simplifie des charges sociales et fiscales section. Alternatively you can write to the the Regime Social des Independants with a recorded letter (avec accuse de reception from La Poste) by 31st December 2012.


Valerie Lemiere: Start Business in France

About the author: Valérie Aston

I've been helping people who want to start or already have a small business set up in France since 2009. After graduating from a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, I worked as a senior marketing consultant in the UK and France for various International companies. I worked as a conseillère en création d'entreprises (senior business advisor) for BGE here in France and run this independent business on a daily basis.