Retirement:

If you have not worked in France, you can apply for a solidarity allowance for the elderly (ASPA) at the town hall or at the competent municipal social action center. The maximum amount is 8,907.34 euros per year (i.e. 742.27 euros per month) for a single person or when only one member of the couple benefits, or 14,181.30 euros per year (i.e. 1,181,77 euros per month) when both members of the couple benefit.

To be eligible, you must be at least 65 years old, be authorized to reside in France or overseas and your annual resources must not exceed 7,635.53 euros for a single person or 13,374.16 euros for a couple married.

After having lived an uninterrupted period of 5 years in France, you will obtain a right of permanent residence.

In this case, you are authorized to stay there permanently. To obtain this permanent right, you must prove the continuity of your 5-year stay by all means (documents from proven administrations or organizations, housing lease, bank statements, etc.). However, rest assured, certain absences are authorized, in particular those not exceeding 6 months per year or 12 consecutive months for an important reason such as a serious illness.

Documents to be provided:

For the installation formalities in France, you must:

• be in possession of a valid identity document or passport,
• not represent a threat to public order,
• have health insurance for you and your family,
• have sufficient resources so as not to become a burden on French social assistance.

Registration fees : free

For more info:

https://www.vie-publique.fr/fiches/37937-caracteristiques-principales-du-systeme-de-retraite-francais

Direct taxation:

The corporation tax (IS) is an annual tax on profits made in France by companies. Certain companies not subject to IS (mainly sole proprietorships or professional civil societies) are subject to income tax (IR).

Consumption taxation:

Value Added Tax (VAT) is a consumption tax that the consumer pays when purchasing a product or service. The rate is set at 20% and there are two reduced rates (10% and 5.5%) for certain products and services. A rate of 2.1% is applied to press publications and drugs reimbursed by social security.

The overall amount of VAT payable is calculated by the taxable entity. If the difference between the VAT collected (on sales to consumers) and the VAT paid (to suppliers) is negative, the company compensates the surplus with its next tax payments or can request a refund.

Indirect taxes and similar taxes are partially harmonized at Community level: taxes on spirits and alcoholic beverages, internal tax on petroleum products, taxes on tobacco.

A general tax on polluting activities is applicable to companies which carry out certain operations such as the storage and treatment of waste, the delivery or use of lubricants, the emission of polluting substances into the atmosphere, etc.

Local taxation:

The government collects taxes for local communities. They partially define the rate, not being able to vary it beyond legal limits.

The property tax on built-up land is collected annually on developed land located in France, except in the case of a right to permanent exemption (public property, agricultural buildings, etc.) or a temporary exemption (new or innovative businesses, development incentives, etc.). The property tax on undeveloped land is levied on owners of undeveloped land of any kind located in France, except in the case of entitlement to permanent exemption (public property) or a temporary exemption (incentives for agriculture, reforestation and conservation of environmental protection zones). Like the property tax on built-up land, the tax is due by the owner of the land on January 1 of the tax year.

The territorial economic contribution is composed of a contribution from commercial premises and a contribution on the added value of companies calculated on the basis of the added value generated by a company.

For more info:

https://www.impots.gouv.fr/portail/international-professionnel/fiscalite-des-entreprises

The reception system for foreign researchers was relaxed by Law 2016-274 of March 7, 2016 on the law of foreigners in France.

The multi-year “talent passport” card for a period of 4 years, bearing the mention “researcher-mobility program”, is offered to researchers coming under a mobility or host program of the European Union or of a public or private body.

Higher education and research establishments, public and private research organizations or foundations, companies, after having received approval from MESRI, issue a hosting agreement.

The agreement bearing the prefecture’s stamp is sent to the researcher in his country of residence who signs it and applies for a visa. The consulate affixes its seal to it. The researcher will go to the prefecture of his place of residence in France to apply for a multi-year residence permit and present the hosting agreement.

For researchers, including doctoral students with an employment contract: the “talent passport” simplifies the installation of foreign employees. The employment contract or the installation period must be greater than 3 months and no more than 4 years.

The immediate family can accompany him and benefit from a multi-year residence permit, the spouse and the child (ren) in their 18th year will be authorized to exercise a professional activity.

It is requested from the prefecture of the domicile within 3 months of arrival.

For students, including doctoral students without an employment contract: the “student visa”: you must be over 18 years of age and be enrolled in a French higher education establishment:

• a short stay visa for training of less than 3 months;
• a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, for a course longer than 3 months.

The competitions are open to foreign scientists. There are also possibilities for fixed-term (C.D.D.) or indefinite (C.D.I.) contractual recruitment. The publication of public job offers can be found on different sites:

• the sites of research organizations (CNRS, INSERM, INRAE, etc.) or universities
• the GALAXIE portal dedicated to the recruitment of teacher-researchers
• APEC dedicated to the employment of executives
• EURAXESS Jobs the European portal dedicated to research job vacancies in the EU and associated countries.

EURAXESS France has more than 42 centers which provide foreign researchers with personalized reception and support.
For more info:

https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/cid56284/accueil-en-france-des-scientifiques-etrangers.html

https://cache.media.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/file/Accueil_scientifiques_etrangers/68/4/jo_pdf_Arrete27_08_2019_1184684.pdf

The foreign natural person who wishes to exercise an activity can opt for the status of auto-entrepreneur or create a sole proprietorship or a company.

A foreign legal person wishing to set up in France can create a liaison office, a branch or a subsidiary.

If the company does a market study on French territory, it can open a representative or liaison office (research or supply of technical and price information, without commercial activity).

Registration in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) is not compulsory. A declaration of existence can be requested from the Business Formalities Center (CFE) of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is not required to comply with this request. The declaration entails the registration of the liaison office in the National Directory of Companies and Establishments, which gives rise to the issuance of the SIREN and SIRET identification numbers. If the liaison office is not registered with the RCS and if it wishes to employ employees, the declaration formalities and the payment of social contributions must be made to URSSAF Strasbourg (contact for employers without an establishment in France).

This structure is not subject to the authorization procedure for foreign investments in France, and is not considered a taxable entity.

The head of the representative or liaison office is generally an employee of the foreign company. Unless he is seconded to France by this company (and thus the social protection system of his country of origin remains applicable to him), he falls under the general French social security system. The formalities of registration, declaration and payment of contributions to the various funds are his responsibility.

• If the foreign company settles in France to carry out a commercial activity, it can opt for two types of establishments subject to registration with the RCS: The subsidiary is a company incorporated under French law, with legal personality, more than half of the capital of which is held by the parent company. It is subject to French regulations for the possible legal forms and their tax and social consequences, the commercial premises and the formalities (registration, etc.);
• The branch manages a business that is separate from the main establishment by its installation and its own material organization. It does not have legal personality and does not have financial autonomy. The “agency” is synonymous with “branch” (lighter physical structures or limited powers of its management).
• The foreign company which creates a branch or an agency must file two certified copies of its articles of association in French and proceed, within fifteen days to its registration and to the legal, administrative, fiscal and social formalities (in the event of hiring of employees). ) at the business formalities center. The branch manager is most often an employee of the foreign company (or an agent).
• Setting up in France, a branch or a foreign agency is exempt from prior declaration and authorization.

The subsidiary and the branch are subject to corporation tax. An agreement signed by France and the State of origin of the parent company can modify the tax system in order to avoid double taxation of profits.
Ddocuments to be provided:

The subsidiary is required to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements – bookkeeping and filing of annual accounts, presence of the auditor, etc. – within the scope of its activity.

For more info:

https://www.captaincontrat.com/articles-creation-entreprise/creation-filiale-etranger

https://www.captaincontrat.com/articles-creation-entreprise/definition-filiale-fonctionnement