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
