1. Are you a "non-resident" ?
. Yes, if you pay taxes on all of your income elsewhere than in france.

2. What are your obligations when you sell a piece of real estate in France ?
. If you have been an owner for less than fifteen years, you will be required to :
. file a declaration of capital gains, even if you have no tax to pay;
. appoint a tax representative if the share of the price of sale you are to receive is greater than 150,000 € ; and
. pay tax, which comes to 33,33 % of the taxable capital gain. Tax is reduced to 16 % for residents of the Eurapean Union.
. If you have been an owner for more than 15 years :
. you are exempt from tax and from filing a tax declaration*.

3. What are the specific provisions for foreign companies ?
. Appointment of a tax representative is compulsory, without exception.
. Capital gains are computed less favourably, and they are taxed at the rate of 33, 33 %.
. Annual tax of 3 % (art. 990 E of the General Tax Code).

4. What happens next ?
. Your declaration can be verified for a period of four years or even more.
. Your tax representative will be required to provide proof of the calculation that has been made and to defend your position.

5. What does your tax representative do ?
. He signs your tax declaration.
. He guarantees its accuracy and is required to answer the tax audit.
. He undertakes to pay the tax and penalties in the event of a tax adjustment.
. His liability is unlimited.

6. Who can be your tax representative ?
. Either a compagny accredited by the French Tax Administration; or
. By special authorisation, a person residing in France. The decision on authorisation takes a certain amount of time which is necessary in order to verify your representative' tax status.

7. What particular advantages are there in being representated by Sarf ?
. Competitiveness of the leader in the profession.
. Assurance that your file will be handled within 24 hours.
. The benefit of quality in counselling and follow-up based on 20 years' experience.

8. Who is SARF ?
. Sarf is a private Establishment devoted exclusively to Tax Representation.
. Several large banking groups (CIC, Crédit Lyonnais and BNP-Paribas) are institutional shareholders of Sarf for your guarantee.

9. How is SARF remunerated ?
. Its fees, withheld from the proceeds of the sale, are deductible from the capital gains.
. No additional sum is requested when sarf acts in your defense**.

* unless it is a plot of land on which you have constructed less than fifteen years before.
** in observance of its contractual conditions, Sarf defends its clients free of charge in the event of a tax audit, a request for information or a notification of adjustment relative to a tax covered by Sarf.