Reply to: Move to France... Work in the UK

[expat]

In my particular case I had a fairly significant RTA, a trip in the back of one of those nice blue vans and an appointment at the local Mairie the next morning. They really didn't want me leaving town until they had decided what charges they were bringing and against whom. Top tip, if somebody jumps a red light and pulls across right in front of you on the N118 do try very hard to miss them. It's a lot less hassle.

You should perhaps decide whether you need a carte de sejour and duly reigster yourself. I don't know the current rules (and even if I did would personally just ignore them anyway)

Carte de séjour not now needed, EU citizenship is enough. You are supposed to register if resident, though, just like a French national. More to the practical point is that it's hard to do much without making your presence known.

[ASB]

I suppose if you live near one airport and work near another, it's feasible. I have a hard time getting to a client before 11:00 on Monday (admittedly UK to mainland, so "lose" 1h), and after that, an honest 40 hours work in 4 days is wearing after a while. You can of course fix that by not doing an honest 40, as many do.

Monday, office here, PM fly to Paris. Get to hotel midnight. Tues/Wed office. 10 pm flight back. Delayed 3 hours, home 2 am yesterday. I'm lucky as a permie now that this is working time, so I get quite a lot of time off in lieu. But it's still wearing.

[ASB]

ASB- Im just wondering how the local authorities got hold of your details?

I have spent seven months in Paris with my Irish Ltd company, but I have not opened up any French bank a/c or made myself "visible" if you know what I mean. As I am now a French resident after six months are my details known to the local mairie?

In my particular case I had a fairly significant RTA, a trip in the back of one of those nice blue vans and an appointment at the local Mairie the next morning. They really didn't want me leaving town until they had decided what charges they were bringing and against whom. Top tip, if somebody jumps a red light and pulls across right in front of you on the N118 do try very hard to miss them. It's a lot less hassle.

You should perhaps decide whether you need a carte de sejour and duly reigster yourself. I don't know the current rules (and even if I did would personally just ignore them anyway)

[NotAllThere]

Nah, you're just an illegal.

[Mike Hunt]

When I was in France for a couple of years (but coming and going a lot) I was billing through UK co (and paying UK taxes).

At the time I was certainly still resident in the UK - I this I was probably also resident in France.

As a result of being involved in an RTA I did come to the attention of the authorities. The local mairie became somewhat interested in my status but didn't persue it - at the time it was something to do with not having spent any period of > 15 days and not having established a "residential" pattern.

ASB- Im just wondering how the local authorities got hold of your details?

I have spent seven months in Paris with my Irish Ltd company, but I have not opened up any French bank a/c or made myself "visible" if you know what I mean. As I am now a French resident after six months are my details known to the local mairie?

[NotAllThere]

I did Basel, where I live, to Leamington Spa via Birmingham. Wouldn't do it again, and that was spread over five days. Then Swiss changed the flights so I had to go via Zürich, so I gave notice.

You can do it for when it works out. But not as a lifestyle choice.

[expat]

No, I think that's a main point.

I used to commute 3-3.5 hours on Monday morning, work 40 hours, then leave for home Thursday lunchtime.

I would have done this for years if I hadn't been offered a contract with more money closer to home.

Because I was driving, the travel time was pretty much fixed. When you're flying, you're at the mercy of the operator, and you have to add in check-in, baggage recovery, travel to and from the airport. It rapidly becomes too much hassle.

That's what I had in mind. If you can drive it's not so bad (I did that from Paris to NL for one contract, it was 5h each way but I got to choose the 5h).

If you have an international flight each way, 3-3.5 hours all told is but a copywriter's dream, 6 is more like it. 2 of those plus a real 40 hours is quite a lot to do in 4 days.

I suppose if you live near one airport and work near another, it's feasible. I have a hard time getting to a client before 11:00 on Monday (admittedly UK to mainland, so "lose" 1h), and after that, an honest 40 hours work in 4 days is wearing after a while. You can of course fix that by not doing an honest 40, as many do.

[NotAllThere]

There appear to be two routes in France. The official route, which is painful and expensive, and the other route, which is only available if you speak/are French, or have a very good relationship with someone important.

[ASB]

You simple can not actually live in France, and not be liable to pay tax there.

When I was in France for a couple of years (but coming and going a lot) I was billing through UK co (and paying UK taxes).

At the time I was certainly still resident in the UK - I this I was probably also resident in France.

As a result of being involved in an RTA I did come to the attention of the authorities. The local mairie became somewhat interested in my status but didn't persue it - at the time it was something to do with not having spent any period of > 15 days and not having established a "residential" pattern.

[NotAllThere]

...As a separate point, you won't get flights exactly when you want them.

No, I think that's a main point.

I used to commute 3-3.5 hours on Monday morning, work 40 hours, then leave for home Thursday lunchtime.

I would have done this for years if I hadn't been offered a contract with more money closer to home.

Because I was driving, the travel time was pretty much fixed. When you're flying, you're at the mercy of the operator, and you have to add in check-in, baggage recovery, travel to and from the airport. It rapidly becomes too much hassle.

[expat]

With the Ryan air schedule from Limoges, his 4 day week will require 2 extra travelling days, unless his client allows him to work 'unsociable hours'. Maybe useful for one of the many shift work type contracts that are appearing due to the crunch.

Indeed, that's the same with a lot of provincial airports, especially if you're looking at Ryanair. Many of these places are obviously only economic even for Ryanair if all the passengers will squeeze on to 1 flight a day.

I should have said, even with flights whenever you want them, it's hard to do 2 flights plus 40 hours in 4 days, week after week.

As a separate point, you won't get flights exactly when you want them.

[Turion]

That's all perfectly feasible. You do have to swing it: get contracts that will let you do 4 days, in places Ryanair fly from your location, and who are ready for Ryanair and however their reliability might be (I'm sure it's pretty good, Mr O'Leary).

Plus: try 4 days in office + 1 day working at home? Some will let you do that, who won't let you do 4x10 hours.
Minus: It's awfully hard to keep doing 4x10h AND a return flight in 4 days.
Plus: Try NL, where 4x9h for 36h pay is a recognised format.
Minus: Have a plan for when Ryanair dump your hick airport.

With the Ryan air schedule from Limoges, his 4 day week will require 2 extra travelling days, unless his client allows him to work 'unsociable hours'. Maybe useful for one of the many shift work type contracts that are appearing due to the crunch.

[expat]

I doubt that this plan wil result in much economic activity. The fact that he wants to move to the middle of nowhere in France, commute using Ryan Air, and then work a 5 day week in 4 days is not sustainable. Dream on.

That's all perfectly feasible. You do have to swing it: get contracts that will let you do 4 days, in places Ryanair fly from your location, and who are ready for Ryanair and however their reliability might be (I'm sure it's pretty good, Mr O'Leary).

Plus: try 4 days in office + 1 day working at home? Some will let you do that, who won't let you do 4x10 hours.
Minus: It's awfully hard to keep doing 4x10h AND a return flight in 4 days.
Plus: Try NL, where 4x9h for 36h pay is a recognised format.
Minus: Have a plan for when Ryanair dump your hick airport.

[Turion]

I doubt that this plan wil result in much economic activity. The fact that he wants to move to the middle of nowhere in France, commute using Ryan Air, and then work a 5 day week in 4 days is not sustainable. Dream on.

[expat]

...
Oh, and don't forget that you also get to be resident if you're in the UK more than 90 days per year over a rolling 4 year period. ( Don't know if France do something similar ).

If you have "economic activity" in France, or your main residence there, or spend more time there rhan any other country, you are liable to be assessed as resident.

On the first point alone, they might assess you as offering contracting services from France, even if particular work items may be performed in other countries.

You simple can not actually live in France, and not be liable to pay tax there.