A: Taxable properties

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Article 1381

French General Tax CodeIn force

Updated 7 Nov 2023

Also subject to property tax on built-up properties are:

1° Installations intended to shelter people or goods or to store products as well as masonry works having the character of real constructions such as, in particular, factory chimneys, atmospheric coolers, dry docks, works serving as a support for operating equipment;

2° Works of art and communication routes;

3° Boats used at a fixed point and fitted out for habitation, trade or industry, even if they are only held by mooring lines;

4° The floors of buildings of any kind and land forming an essential and immediate dependency of these constructions with the exception of land occupied by greenhouses assigned to an agricultural operation;

5° With the exception of those mentioned in the last paragraph of the article 1393, uncultivated land used for commercial or industrial purposes, such as building sites, goods depots and other sites of the same nature, whether the owner occupies them or has them occupied by others free of charge or in return for payment ;

6° Land on which installations exempt under 11° of Article 1382 are built;

7° Land, whether cultivated or not, used for commercial or industrial advertising, by billboards, screen posters or posters on special portable equipment, established beyond a distance of 100 metres around any agglomeration of houses or buildings.

Mariela Petrova

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Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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