Finance

French Tax Declaration 2026: Step-by-Step Guide for Expats (Déclaration de Revenus)

Tax season is live in France right now. Online filing on impots.gouv.fr opened on 9 April 2026, and the first deadlines hit in just over a month — paper returns by 19 May, and online returns staggered from 21 May to 4 June depending on your département. For expats, this is never a routine exercise: beyond the main formulaire 2042, you likely need the 2047 for foreign income, the 3916 for foreign bank accounts (€1,500 fine per missed account), and critical boxes like 1AF/1BF for foreign salary and 8TK for the credit d'impôt that prevents double taxation. First-year filers face the steepest learning curve because the tax office sends no reminder email if you haven't yet created an espace particulier. This guide walks through every stage — who must file, which forms apply, how to navigate impots.gouv.fr screen by screen, and how to avoid the five mistakes that cost expats hundreds of euros every year. If you've been putting this off, now is the week to act.