Tax refunds in Paris follow French rules, not US rules
If you worked in Paris and earned income there, you file a tax return with the French tax authority (Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, or DGFIP), not the IRS. France has its own tax year, filing deadlines, and refund process. The steps, timelines, and where your money goes are all different from a US federal refund.
Whether you get a refund depends on how much tax your employer withheld from your paychecks versus how much you actually owe based on your total income, deductions, and family situation. If you overpaid, DGFIP sends the refund to your French bank account. The process takes several weeks to several months depending on the complexity of your return and the time of year you file.
Key Takeaways
- French residents file income tax returns with DGFIP between May and June each year, covering income earned in the previous calendar year.
- You can file online through impots.gouv.fr or on paper; online filing is faster and DGFIP recommends it.
- Refunds are deposited directly to the French bank account you list on your return, usually within four to eight weeks of filing.
- If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, you may owe US taxes on worldwide income even if you worked only in France, and you should file both returns.
- You can check your refund status through your DGFIP online account after filing.
Who files a French tax return and when
You must file a French income tax return if you lived in France on January 1 of the tax year and earned income there. This includes employees, self-employed people, and anyone with rental income or investment income earned in France. The filing deadline is usually in early June, though DGFIP extends it by a few days each year and sets different deadlines for online filers versus paper filers.
The return covers income you earned during the previous calendar year. So the return you file in June 2024 reports income you earned from January 1 through December 31, 2023. DGFIP sends you a pre-filled return in the spring showing income your employer or bank already reported to them; you review it, add anything missing, and submit it.
How to file your return online or on paper
The fastest route is to file online through impots.gouv.fr using your DGFIP account. You will need your login credentials; if you do not have an account, you can create one on the site. DGFIP pre-fills most of your return based on information from your employer and banks, so you mainly review and correct what is there, then add any deductions or credits you claim.
If you file on paper, you request a return form from DGFIP or download it from their website, fill it out by hand, and mail it to the address printed on the form. Paper filing takes longer to process because DGFIP has to manually enter your data. Online filing also gives you an immediate confirmation that your return was received, whereas paper returns can take weeks to show up in your account.
You will need documents showing your income (pay stubs, 1099-type forms from employers), proof of any deductions you claim, and your French bank account number for the refund. Have these ready before you start, but you do not submit them with the return unless DGFIP asks for them later.
How long refunds take and where the money goes
After you file, DGFIP processes your return and calculates whether you owe money or get a refund. This usually takes four to eight weeks, though it can take longer if your return is complex or if you file late in the season when DGFIP is processing thousands of returns per day.
Refunds are deposited directly into the French bank account you listed on your return. You do not receive a check or have to do anything else to claim the money. Once the refund is processed, DGFIP updates your online account to show the deposit date; you can log in and check the status there.
If you provided an incorrect bank account number or the account is closed, the refund may be returned to DGFIP. Contact them through your online account or by phone to provide the correct account details so they can reissue the refund.
Checking your refund status online
Log into your DGFIP account at impots.gouv.fr and look for a section labeled "Mes paiements" (My Payments) or "Suivi de ma situation" (Track My Situation). This shows whether your return has been processed, how much you owe or are owed, and the date DGFIP will deposit a refund if one is due.
The status updates as DGFIP processes your return. Early on it may show "En cours de traitement" (Processing); once complete it shows the final amount and deposit date. If you filed online, the status usually updates within a few days. If you filed on paper, it may take several weeks for your return to appear in the system.
If you do not see your return in your account after six weeks, contact DGFIP directly. You can call their helpline, send a message through your online account, or visit a local tax office in person.
What to do if you are a US citizen or permanent resident
If you are a US citizen or green card holder, you must file a US federal income tax return reporting worldwide income, including what you earned in France. This is true even if you paid French taxes on that income. You may owe US taxes on top of French taxes, or you may be able to claim a foreign tax credit to reduce what you owe the IRS.
File your US return with the IRS by the normal deadline (usually April 15, though you can request an extension to October 15). You will need the same income documents you used for your French return. Many people use a tax professional who understands both systems because the rules interact in ways that are easy to get wrong.
If you file your US return after you file your French return, you can still claim the foreign tax credit for French taxes you paid. The credit reduces your US tax liability dollar-for-dollar (up to the amount of US tax you owe on that income), so you do not pay tax twice on the same money.
What to do if your refund does not arrive
If DGFIP shows a refund was processed and deposited but the money has not appeared in your bank account after two weeks, contact your bank first. Ask them to check whether the transfer arrived and was rejected, or whether it is still pending. Provide them with the deposit date DGFIP showed.
If your bank confirms the transfer never arrived, log into your DGFIP account and send a message to DGFIP explaining the situation and asking them to investigate. Include the date your return was processed and the amount of the refund. DGFIP can check whether the transfer was sent and to which account, and can reissue it if there was an error.
If you cannot reach DGFIP through your online account, call their helpline or visit a local tax office in person with your return and proof that the refund was not received. Bring your bank statements showing the account where the refund should have landed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a French tax return if I only worked in Paris for part of the year?
Yes. You report only the income you earned while you were in France and file as a resident if you were there on January 1 of the tax year. If you arrived partway through the year, you may file as a non-resident for that year and resident status begins the following year. DGFIP will tell you which category applies based on your dates.
What if I do not have a French bank account yet?
You need a French bank account to receive your refund by direct deposit. Open one before you file your return, or update your return with the correct account number once you have one. If you file with an incorrect account, contact DGFIP to provide the correct details before the refund is processed.
Do I have to file a French return if my employer already withheld taxes?
Yes, you must file even if taxes were withheld. Filing is how you report your total income, claim deductions, and receive any refund you are owed. Withholding is not the same as filing; DGFIP needs your return to calculate what you actually owe.
How do I know if I will get a refund or owe money?
You will not know until DGFIP processes your return. The pre-filled return DGFIP sends you shows estimated tax based on what your employer reported, but the final amount depends on your total income, deductions, family situation, and other credits. File your return and check your account after processing to see the result.
What if I made a mistake on my return after I filed it?
You can file a corrected return (déclaration rectificative) through your DGFIP account. This is free and tells DGFIP to replace your original return with the corrected version. File the correction as soon as you notice the error; the sooner you file, the sooner DGFIP processes it and any refund adjustment is made.