TLDR: The legal basis is Article 1649 A of the French General Tax Code (CGI), which requires natural persons, associations, and non-commercial companies domiciled or established in France to declare accounts opened, held, used, or closed abroad.
Legal basis
The declaration obligation is based on Article 1649 A of the CGI, which explicitly establishes the requirement to declare foreign accounts for the specified categories of individuals.
Persons concerned
The obligation applies to natural persons, associations, and non-commercial companies domiciled or established in France. It also covers holders of a power of attorney over a foreign account, as well as French nationals who have established their habitual residence in Monaco since 14 October 1957.
Declaration content
The declaration must include the account identification details, namely:
- the address of the head office or main establishment;
- the address of the account holder(s);
- the address of the beneficiary(ies) of a power of attorney communicated to the depositary, if different from the identification details.
Declaration methods
The declaration can be submitted using form no. 3916-3916 bis (CERFA no. 11916), available online at www.impots.gouv.fr. Online declaration is also provided for under Articles 1649 quater B bis and following of the CGI.
Deadlines and frequency
The declaration must be filed together with the income or results tax return and for each year or financial year in which the account was opened, held, used, or closed.
Exceptions
The declaration obligation does not apply to foreign accounts held with financial institutions when the following cumulative conditions are met:
- the account is used solely for making online payments for purchases or receiving proceeds from sales of goods;
- opening the account requires holding another account in France to which it is linked;
- the total annual receipts credited to this account from sales made by its holder do not exceed €10,000.