Accountant for British entrepreneurs in France
Moving from the UK to France to start a business, run gîtes or open a school? Since Brexit, British nationals are treated as non-EU nationals, and the French rules on companies, VAT and tax residence can feel like a maze. We work with you in English, from company formation to your yearly tax returns, wherever you settle: Dordogne, Brittany, Normandy, Provence or Paris.
What we handle for British clients
- Setting up your company in France (SARL, SARL de famille, SAS) and registering it.
- Gîtes and holiday lets: the right structure, VAT and tourist tax.
- Bookkeeping, VAT returns and annual accounts, explained in English.
- Your French personal tax return once you become tax resident.
- Coordination with your UK situation (income, property or pension kept in the UK), under the France-UK tax treaty.
Why British clients work with us
- Everything in English: calls, emails, explanations.
- A qualified French chartered accountant (expert-comptable), not a translation service.
- Fully remote: you can start while still in the UK.
- Fixed monthly fees agreed upfront.
Guides for British entrepreneurs
Frequently asked questions
- Can I set up a French company while still living in the UK?
- Yes. Formation can be prepared remotely. You will need a French address for the registered office and a bank account to deposit the share capital.
- When do I become a French tax resident?
- Generally when your home or main place of stay is in France, when your main professional activity is in France, or when your main economic interests are in France. One of these criteria is enough. We review your situation on arrival.
- Will I be taxed twice on my UK income?
- The France-UK tax treaty is designed to avoid double taxation. Depending on the type of income (pension, rental income, salary), it is taxed in one country or the other, with a mechanism to avoid paying twice. We look at each source of income with you.
- Do you deal with visas or residence permits?
- No. These are handled by immigration lawyers. We focus on your company, accounting and tax.
More for foreign groups
Setting up in France
Your French subsidiary handled end to end: registration, accounting, VAT, payroll and reporting in English.
Branch or subsidiary in France?
What actually separates the two structures, and how the choice is usually made.
French payroll, explained
What a French employee really costs, what the monthly filings involve, and the rules that surprise foreign head offices.
French statutory accounts and group reporting
Why your French entity keeps two sets of numbers, and how to bridge French rules and your group framework.
Accounting and tax for French subsidiaries
Bookkeeping, tax, payroll and group reporting for French subsidiaries of foreign groups, explained in English.
French tax and compliance calendar
The main tax, payroll and filing deadlines for foreign-owned companies in France.
Getting paid in France
Payment terms, late payment penalties and the €40 fixed fee.
English-speaking accountant in France
SARL set-up, bookkeeping and French VAT returns, explained in plain English.
Running a gîte in France
VAT, tourist tax and the SARL de famille option, explained in English.
French VAT for foreign companies
Rates, reverse charge, intra-EU sales, imports and the VAT mistakes we see most often in foreign-owned entities.
Intercompany invoicing in France
Management fees, cost recharges and group loans: what a French subsidiary needs to document and invoice.
Year-end closing of a French subsidiary
Group deadlines, French statutory accounts, tax return, approval and filing, step by step.
E-invoicing in France
The 2026 and 2027 timeline, approved platforms and what changes for French subsidiaries.
French CPA for US companies
What a French expert-comptable does, how it compares with a CPA, and how we work with US headquarters.
Book a call in English
4 avenue du 11 Novembre
92400 Courbevoie
contact@montaben-expertise-conseil.com