They can opt for a lump sum exemption equal to 30 of their remuneration

To attract high level leaders from work in France for a limited period ("unpatriated"), the legislature adopted preferential income tax measures. The law of modernization of economy (LME) (1) completed this device in force since 2004 and has extended it to the ISF and the tax shield. Since January 1, 2008, the employees and leaders fiscally treated as employees, under conditions and approval, some self-employed can benefit from substantial exemptions (2). To be eligible, they must not have tax domiciled in France over the five years prior to their taking office. Until 31 December of the fifth calendar year following that of their taking office in France, the unpatriated are exempt from income tax in respect of their remuneration corresponding to their activity in France ("impatriation premium"). They can opt for a lump sum exemption equal to 30 of their remuneration. These persons are also exempt from tax in respect of the portion of compensation corresponding to their activity abroad ("prima expatriation"). At the identical to the provisions provided for workers posted abroad, this exemption assumes that stays out of France be made in the direct and exclusive employer's interest.

Waiver of premium impatriation and expatriation premium is capped at 50 of the overall remuneration of the beneficiary. It may however choose to limit the exemption of its premium of expatriation to 20 of his earnings seen in the title of the activity carried on in France.

Deduct pension contributions

In addition, the unpatriated are exempt from income tax of 50 in respect of some of their foreign source income (income from movable capital products copyright and intellectual property) and capital gains from the sale of securities. They are also entitled to deduct from their taxable remuneration premiums they pay to supplemental pension plans and the foreign supplementary pension plans. The unpatriated also benefit from the development of the rules of territoriality of the tax of solidarity on fortune ("Lai"). At the latest until 31 December of the fifth year following the establishment of their tax domicile in France, the unpatriated are taxable to the ISF as at their only property located in France. Overseas assets available to them on 1 January of each year are therefore excluded from the ISF during the holiday period.

Finally, the unpatriated can benefit from the development brought to the right to restitution of the taxes exceeding 50 of revenues ("tax shield") on foreign source income. In order to improve the attractiveness of the France, foreign source income made between January 1 and the day of installation of the tax domicile in France are more taken into account for the purposes of the tax shield. Candidates on arrival in France with an important taxable assets to the ISF will have an interest in settling their tax residence year to reduce their eligible earnings to the tax shield. Indeed, only foreign source income between the day of arrival in France and the 31 December as well as the whole of French source income will be taken into account for the purposes of the tax shield. This measure, benefiting only the year of installation of the tax domicile in France, applies to requests for restitution in 2008.

Taxpayers who are domiciled in France in 2006 and who have enabled the tax shield in 2008 prior to the entry into force of the LME may, if necessary, amending apply before 31 December of this year to take advantage of additional restitution.