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Spoiler alert: Yes. But don't panic, we'll explain everything. Because saying "I do" at the town hall is great. But saying "I do" to the tax office is also a must. If you thought you could head to the beach after your wedding without going through the tax office, well... you're out of luck. But we're going to guide you, without jargon, without any hassle. Ready? Let's go.
Ah, taxes. Those surprise guests you didn't really invite to the wedding but who show up anyway—even if they never compliment your wedding dress . Once you get married, the tax authorities need to be informed, for one very simple reason: your family situation changes, and therefore... your tax situation too.
When you get married, you're no longer considered single by the state. Logical, right? Except that when it comes to taxes, everything changes. Your income, your family quotient shares, your tax returns... all of that goes through the mill of official forms.
It's like a change of address, but in a "heart with hands" version.
Yes, it's mandatory. But no, it's not a gas factory. You won't have to fill out a 42-page application in five copies. The administration understands that you have better things to do than fill in boxes between two glasses of champagne and wedding thank you notes.
The declaration is made simply, at the time of the annual income tax return. We'll explain how in a moment.
Now, be careful. Not declaring your marriage is like forgetting to tell your landlord that you've adopted a llama for the living room: it can quickly become problematic. If you don't declare it, you risk continuing to file your taxes as if you were single. The result? Calculation errors, tax adjustments, and sometimes even penalties. And frankly, there are nicer wedding gifts.
Don't worry, there's no form with hieroglyphics. It's simple, quick, and everything is done online (or almost). No need to go to the tax office in a Bohemian Wedding Dress .
The marriage declaration isn't done immediately after the ceremony. You wait until your next tax return (usually between April and June), and then you check the box that says, "Hi, I'm married."
You have three options to choose from:
Make a joint declaration for the entire year,
Make two separate declarations for the period before the marriage and a joint one for after,
Or... no, actually that's it.
But don't panic: the administration automatically offers the default option (the most advantageous, in general).
Go to impots.gouv.fr . Log in to your personal account and, when filing your annual declaration, indicate that you are married, specifying the date of the marriage . There, you will be offered the options mentioned above.
A little tip: keep your family record book handy. It's not mandatory to submit it, but it's always better to have the correct date (no, June 14th or 15th are not "roughly the same").
You can choose the option that seems most advantageous to you. Generally, filing jointly is more advantageous, especially if one spouse earns much less than the other. Thanks to the family quotient , you potentially pay less tax. Nice, right?
But if you don't know what to choose, leave it to the administration. They'll tell you what's best for you. For once, they're on your side.
Okay, you've registered your marriage. Congratulations! But now, what does that change for you? Spoiler: quite a few things. But nothing dramatic.
From the moment you get married—whether you celebrated that special day in a princess wedding dress or otherwise—you can file your taxes together. This means that your wages, any rental income, or other sources of income are combined into a single tax return.
This allows you to average your income and benefit from a tax advantage. For example, if one earns a lot and the other a little, the sum is divided and the tax is reduced. Love (and well-thought-out taxation) is beautiful.
The famous family quotient. It determines the level of taxation based on the composition of your household. Getting married often allows you to have an additional half or full share , which potentially reduces your taxes. And if you have children, it becomes a real jackpot (tax-wise, eh).
No more two separate letters in the mailbox. Now you'll receive a single tax notice for the couple. It's simpler, clearer, and it avoids confusion like: "But who has to pay this year?"
Ah, the big question. Because you may have friends who have entered into a civil partnership, or others who are living together "cool" without getting married. No ceremony, no mermaid wedding dress , but is it the same tax-wise? Spoiler: not quite.
From a tax perspective, marriage and civil partnerships are treated almost identically. In both cases, you are entitled to a joint tax return, to shared tax shares, and to the possibility of reducing your tax liability.
The only real difference? The default matrimonial regime . For married couples, it's community property. For those in a civil partnership, it's separation. But other than that, you're equal in the eyes of the taxman. Love is blind, and so is the tax authorities.
This is a different story. If you live together without being married or in a civil partnership, you are considered two single people . The result: no joint tax return, no additional shares, and no tax breaks related to the couple.
Basically, the state likes you... but separately.
Life isn't always a bed of roses, and sometimes it throws surprises. For example, you get married, in a short, promising wedding dress ... and then you break up. Or a baby arrives. Or you move abroad. What should you do then?
No one wants it, but if it happens, it will have to be declared too. And yes, the tax authorities want to know everything. From the moment of separation or divorce, each person files their tax return separately . No ambiguity, no confusion.
And if you have children, you'll also have to decide who includes them on your tax return. It's a bit like joint custody arrangements.
Good news: a baby = more tax shares. If you have a child after marriage, you can add them to your tax household . And bam, half a share more (or even more depending on the number of children). You can also easily declare the baby in your personal space.
If you move, remember to update your address. It's the basics. And if you move abroad, you'll also need to notify the tax authorities. Depending on your situation, you could become a non-resident for tax purposes , with different rules.
But that's getting into another topic. Spoiler: no, you can't avoid taxes by getting married in Bali. Too bad.
Declaring your marriage is easy. But beware of little blunders that can cost you dearly (or just waste your time).
This is the most common mistake: forgetting to change your situation. Even if you opted for a simple wedding dress on the big day, it doesn't change anything for the taxman: if you continue to declare yourself as single even though you're married, they'll balk. And they'll correct you. And sometimes, they'll ask you for more money. And that's never fun.
This is not the time to improvise. If you enter the wrong date, your declaration could be rejected or misprocessed. Friendly advice: get out your family record book. This is the time when you'll use it the most in your life (along with registering your children for school, of course).
Your personal space on impots.gouv.fr is a bit like your profile on a social network: you need to update it. Name, address, family situation... if you forget, some consequences can be surprising , especially when it's time to file your next tax return.
Yes, declaring your marriage to the tax authorities is mandatory . But it's not a big deal. It's often even advantageous . By getting married, you change your status, and that can reduce your tax bill. So you might as well take advantage of it, right?
Everything is done at the time of the annual tax return, online, calmly, without stress. And if you have any doubts, the administration is there to guide you. Yes, really.
And remember: it's better to warn the taxman than to cure a tax error. Otherwise, they'll be the ones to put the ring on your finger... in the form of a tax adjustment.