Many auto-entrepreneurs have received their 2011 Contribution Fonciere des Entreprises bill, ranging from 56€ to 900€. This has been a very stressful issue for many, as it was announced last year that all auto-entrepreneurs would be exonerated for 3 years, whether or not they did opt for the income tax paid at source (impot liberatoire). So where do we stand with this contradictory advice from Impots?
Frédéric Lefebvre, the State Secretary in charged of SMEs has confirmed in a letter adressed to FEDAE (the auto-entrepreneur professional association), that all new auto-entrepreneurs registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011 should benefit from CFE exonoration.
The tax office, Impôts, seems to have sent the bill to many auto-entrepreneurs by mistake. I would still advise you to double check with your tax office whether or not you should pay your CFE bill, rather than ignore or bin it. Take a copy of the letter published on FEDAE's website and ask to have your record up-dated. If you have already paid your CFE, you should request for a refund.
In the meantime, here is a clarification of the entrepreneurs who will not benefit from a CFE exoneration:
- Micro entreprise, entreprise individuelle, EIRL, EURL or SARL registered in 2010. The CFE exoneration only applies to your first year in business, based on a calendar year. You will therfore be liable to the CFE in 2011.
- Micro entreprises having switched to auto-entrepreneur. This is an ongoing business and you are therefore not considered as a new auto-entrepreneur, hence no CFE exoneration.
The tax office states that you have to complete a form requesting your 3 year exoneration within the first three months of your business creation. Check if you did complete this form and take a copy and your bill to Impôts to cancel your tax.
In doubts, go and visit your local tax office and ask for advice to clarify your situation. There are many mistakes on their records, so it will be an opportunity to ensure that everything is set up properly.