Delayed or Missed Tax Submission: Action Plan
Yo, let's chat about late tax declarations!
In France, there are different deadlines for your annual income tax declaration, depending on your department.
- The annual income tax declaration is a yearly process for all taxpayers, helping the government calculate the tax owed based on income from the previous year.
Here's a lowdown on the 2025 deadlines:
- Online declaration for departments 01 to 19 and non-residents: May 22, 2025
- Online declaration for departments 20 to 54: May 28, 2025
- Online declaration for departments 55 to 976: June 5, 2025
- Paper declaration (for those without internet access or unable to use online services): May 20, 2025
If you've messed up and missed the deadline, don't sweat it! Just get your act together and file ASAP online at impot.gouv. Don't forget, the longer you wait, the more penalties you'll likely face.
Suppose you have a good reason for your tardiness (like illness or administrative issues). In that case, you can request a waiver from your tax department to help ease the financial pain.* Keep in mind, it needs to be a compelling excuse, so make sure to get your story straight.**
If you've made an error after the deadline, no worries! You can still fix it online via your personal space on the tax site.
Now, let's talk about the consequences of late payments and the pesky penalties that come along with them.
When you're late, interest rates kick in. It's a 0.20% monthly rate on the outstanding tax amount, calculated from July 1st of the following year of the revenue collection. That means a yearly rate of 2.4%, nasty, huh?
Since 2018, the authorities ease up on the fine if the taxpayer agrees to correct the late declaration after being notified of the control they're subject to.
Still, if they find an error or an omission in the return, a tax increase may apply.
It can be 10% if there was no demand from the tax office, 20% if the reaction was late, 40% if there was no response within 30 days of the demand, 80% in instances of hidden activity, or even 100% if you refuse to cooperate during a tax audit.*
If the offense is considered intentional, the tax increase can reach a whopping 80%! On the flip side, if the error was not intentional, the increase may only be 40%.
In extreme cases of fraud, the tax increase can reach up to 80% if you've used illegal means like false invoices or undervaluation of property to evade taxes.
For insufficient declarations caused by non-intentional errors, no tax increase applies, but late fees will still accumulate.
Now, let's suppose you find yourself in hot water with the taxman. You might opt for a tax settlement, which is a nifty way to reduce those financial painful penalties. In exchange, you'll agree to settle the debt right away and renounce any future contests.
The tax office may also propose a tax settlement if they have doubts about their analysis or wish to avoid a long, tedious conflict.
Are you looking to file your first tax declaration? Make sure to get your shit together and gather all the necessary documents, girlfriend! Check out our handy dandy guide on how to get started.
Since this can be confusing and frustrating, don't forget there's professional help available if you need it. Don't be afraid to reach out to a tax pro or get advice from friends. Don't let taxes ruin your vibe, get on top of them quickly, and everyone will be happy!
Sources:
[1] Le Figaro: Calendrier des délais 2025 pour le saisie préalable et la déclaration de revenus des salariés libéraux[2] Monsiteimpots.fr: Document responsibility declaration*[3] Service-public.fr: Submit your tax returns online by May 22, 2025[4] Direct Epha: 5 stages of preparing for a tax audit[5] Direct Epha: Deadlines and penalties for late income tax declaration**
Tags: tax declaration, income tax, IRS, taxes, tax evasion
- If you're facing difficulties managing your finances due to a late tax declaration, consider seeking help with personal-finance management to avoid accruing debt from penalties.
- A late tax declaration can lead to financial pain, including penalties in the form of interest rates and tax increases that could potentially reach 80%. Seeking expert advice on personal-finance matters can be beneficial in these situations.
