French tax representatives

Our accredited tax agents ensure that international businesses meet their fiscal and customs obligations efficiently, allowing them to operate seamlessly within France and the broader European market. They are able to offer the following services:

1. Tax Representation and Agents

Tax Representation: For companies outside the European Union conducting taxable transactions in France, our accredited tax representative can handle VAT registration, filing returns, and liaising with tax authorities.

Tax Agency: For EU-based companies, our tax agent can assist with VAT obligations in France and other EU member states.

2. VAT Compliance

Registration and Filing: managing VAT registration in France and the EU, preparing and submitting VAT returns, ensuring timely payment of taxes.

Refund Claims: Assisting in reclaiming VAT credits for both EU and non-EU companies, navigating the "9th Directive" and "13th Directive" procedures.

E-commerce Solutions: Providing guidance on the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) and One Stop Shop (OSS) schemes, facilitating VAT compliance for distance sales of goods and services within the EU.

3. Customs Compliance

Declarations: Handling Intrastat declarations for goods movements and European Service Declarations (DES) for service transactions within the EU.

Import/Export Assistance: Supporting obtaining Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) numbers and ensures compliance with customs regulations for importing and exporting goods.

4. Excise and Environmental Taxes

Tax Obligations: Assisting companies liable for taxes such as the General Tax on Polluting Activities (TGAP), Domestic Consumption Tax on Natural Gas (TICGN), and Domestic Consumption Tax on Energy Products (TICPE), managing declarations and payments.

Outsourced Financial Management

We can also offer outsourced financial management, offering a range of services to enhance the financial operations of your business - transforming financial functions into strategic assets, driving growth and efficiency within organisations.

The key services include:

1. Administrative and Financial Boost

Process Optimisation: Assisting in streamlining administrative and financial processes to improve efficiency and productivity.

Financial Reporting: Providing support in generating accurate and timely financial reports, enabling better decision-making.

2. Smart Interim

Interim Management: Offering experienced interim professionals to fill temporary gaps in financial leadership roles, ensuring continuity in financial operations.

Team Support: Providing additional resources to support existing teams during periods of increased workload or transition.

3. 360° Audits

Comprehensive Assessments: Conducting thorough audits covering legal, social, and fiscal compliance to identify areas of improvement and ensure adherence to regulations.

Risk Management: Help in identifying potential risks and implementing strategies to mitigate them.

4. Coaching for Executives and Top Managers

Leadership Development: Providing coaching services aimed at enhancing the leadership skills of executives and senior managers.

Performance Improvement: Working with leaders to develop strategies for improving team performance and achieving organisational goals.

5. Software Change Management

Technology Optimisation: Assisting in evaluating and selecting new software systems to enhance technological tools.

Implementation and Training: Ensuring a smooth transition to new systems, from selection to implementation, including team training.

For more information on international tax advice or tax planning in France, Europe and beyond, please contact us on 0033 (0)1 53 57 49 10 or email us from our contact page and we’ll be happy to help.

How to start a business in Europe - company formation, business bank accounts & accountancy

Europe is the perfect place to start a business. With many of the world’s biggest economies and strongest consumer markets, Europe is full of ideal startup destinations. The wealth of countries close together - and the benefits of the European Union - allow you to grow and expand your business without barriers or borders, and realize your full potential.

Euro Start Entreprises can help you to start a business in 23 countries throughout Europe, including the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Our network of formation agents, chartered accountants and other business specialists will handle the difficult aspects of starting a company in a foreign language, letting you focus on the things that matter most.

Advantages of starting a business in Europe

Europe is full of prime startup destinations, which you can read about in our guide to the Best Countries in Europe to Start a Business. But what are the other reasons to start a company in Europe? Your new business could benefit from:

Tax breaks for foreign investors
Ample access to talent
Generous R&D funding
Abundance of similar markets
Frictionless trade
Double taxation treaties
EU funding schemes
Robust startup infrastructure
Prominent tech hubs
Highly stable economies

Taxes and accountancy in Europe

Corporate tax and value added tax (VAT) rates differ across Europe, though all EU countries must comply with certain limitations. Corporate tax rates will have a direct impact on your revenue, while VAT mitigates costs for businesses. The average corporate tax rate in European OECD areas is 21.7%, below the global average of 23.54%.

The lowest corporate tax rate in Europe is Hungary at 9%, though Ireland at 12.5% has also become a popular destination for international businesses. Countries with higher rates of corporate tax tend to mitigate this with other benefits, such as a stable economic environment, small business support, strong startup infrastructure, and R&D tax breaks.

The most important thing to know about VAT in Europe is the MOSS VAT system. Under European law, businesses are required to pay VAT in each individual country they sell to. The MOSS VAT system is a one-stop-shop that allows businesses to pay all of their VAT obligations for all countries to the authorities in a single EU country, simplifying the process.

Our network of expert chartered accountants can help you to manage your business finances through the formation process and beyond, including payroll, bookkeeping and VAT returns. To learn more about our chartered accountancy services and ensure your business complies with the unique aspects of European law, get in touch with us today.

Opening a bank account in Europe

Many countries in Europe will require you to open a business bank account in order to start a business, both for share capital and tax payments. This often requires you to attend the bank in person and complete documentation in the local language. Although some banks do allow you to open accounts remotely, this may still require translation.

To open a bank account in Europe, you will usually need:

Business registration documents
Memorandum of Association
Certificate of Incorporation
Articles of association
Registered office address
Business plan (country dependent)

Euro Start Entreprises can help you to open a bank account in Europe. Our local experts will help you complete and present the necessary documentation, a key part of the formation process that takes much of the stress out of starting a European business. This is particularly true in countries such as France, where bank account approval is not a given.

Recruiting employees in Europe

Starting a business in Europe allows you to benefit from freedom of movement. Countries in the Schengen Area allow most European citizens and visitors to travel without a passport, as well as to freely live and work in other member countries. This allows European businesses to source the best talent from across the continent without worrying about visa eligibility.

Some EU countries also have visas for recruiting talent from further afield. Most countries will offer investment visas for business owners, as well as visas for skilled workers in key industries, tech talent, and individuals earning more than a certain threshold. They will usually require your business to sponsor the individual, which may require some paperwork.

The availability of these visas and ease of application will usually depend on the environment in a specific country. In many cases, visas will be made easier to acquire and numbers will be increased when there is a known shortage of local talent. While this may indicate a lot of competition in that country, it can also provide a useful pathway for new hires.

Virtual and serviced offices in Europe

To start a business in Europe, you generally need to provide a registered business address in your country of choice. If you do not actually require physical premises - e.g. if you conduct most of your business online - it may be more equitable to rent virtual or serviced offices, giving you a physical address and access to only the services you require.

Our virtual and serviced offices in Europe can include:

Telephone answering and forwarding, scanned document forwarding and messaging, using your company’s name
Reception facilities
Meeting and conference facilities
Secretarial assistance
Interview and training rooms
Virtual business address

To learn more about our virtual and serviced offices in Europe and the countries we offer them in, visit our Serviced Offices & Virtual Business Addresses page, or get in touch here.

Start your business in Europe today

Starting a business in Europe may be a leap into the unknown, but Euro Start Entreprises is here to support you. Our formation experts have experience and contacts throughout Europe, and can guide you through the formation process in your chosen country, from liaising with the authorities to completing and submitting the required documentation.

To learn more about starting a business in Europe and find the country that’s right for you, visit our Company Formation pages in the menu above. Alternatively, to learn more about the formation process and start your own formation journey, get in touch with our friendly team at Euro Start Entreprises today.

We can also help you with tax planning, serviced and virtual offices with mail and call forwarding, legal services with our lawyers and VAT services especially for businesses that want to trade abroad. So whether you’re a small business looking to expand your market reach, or a big business that wants to make your mark in a particular European country, we can offer you tailor-made services at a very affordable price.

We also have free downloadable brochures with all the fine details on how to open a company in two of our most popular destinations - France and Ireland. Feel free to click on the buttons below to get your free brochures delivered straight to your inbox.

Starting a business in Europe

French Legal Advice & Business Law Services in France

Euro Start Entreprises and Wilegal, a law firm specialising in French business law, offer a wide range of French legal advice and law services in France. These services include:

French company law & French business law
French contract law
French tax law
French labour laws and French employment contracts
Transfer of businesses in France
Assignment of lease rights in France
European trademark & copyright law
French property law
French collective insolvency proceedings
French legal disputes & litigation
Sustainable development for French companies

French Company Law & French Business Law

From incorporation to dissolution, a French company must comply with the many stipulations of French business law. With minutes, filing and registration, your company must be able to manage its legal responsibilities and make sure it is maintained regularly in good order. We can manage everything, or on an ad hoc basis, including monitoring your French company law, drafting your documents, carrying out filings and administration, and liaising with your accountants, auditors and banks to give your company full legal security.

Contract Law in France

French contract law is for companies that require contracts to be drawn up with business partners in France. This can include general terms and conditions of purchase, sale, services, supply or use; sales or distribution and franchise agreements; French service contracts; partnership agreements; research and development agreements and licence agreements. We can negotiate, draft and implement your contracts including the complicated areas of change of control clauses, ownership of results and data, clauses limiting the liability of your co-contractor, or payment of compensation, penalty clauses and jurisdiction clauses.

French Tax Law

Keeping up to date with French tax laws is a necessity for foreign companies operating in France. Our French tax experts can help with corporate tax affairs such as declarations, tax duties and social security contributions. We can advise on the most suitable tax set-up for your situation, liaising with French government tax offices, as well as your chartered accountant, business partners and co-contractors. We can also help with fiscal and social year-end closing, checking tax returns, single tax return forms, VAT returns and professional taxes, as well as dealing with any issues involving audits, tax authorities and subsequent follow-ups with auditors.

French Labour Law and French employment contracts

French labour law is a complicated subject and there is a strict set of legal rules applicable between employers and employees in France. We’ll help you find your way through the legislation, regulations, practice and employment laws to help prevent possible problems, conflicts or infringements. This can include the drafting of a French employment contract or an amendment, a question on the applicable collective bargaining procedure, declarations of hours or paid leave or acquired rights. Whatever the employment situation, our experts will be able guide and advise you.

Transfer of Businesses in France

Whether you are buying or selling a business or parts of a business in France, our lawyers are specialised in this area and can help with the complex laws of transferring businesses. This includes drafting letters of intent, a provisional sale agreement or deeds; and liaising with the other parties such as the seller, buyer, landlord, tenant, agency, banks, town planning departments, bailiffs, registrars and business tax authorities. They can also manage the resolution of ‘subject-to’ clauses, and the draw-down with the bank, the call for funds from the buyer, opening an escrow account dedicated to your transfer and managing all the stages of the ‘opposition period’.

Assignment of Lease Rights in France

This is a little-known part of business law in France but essential for many businesses and entrepreneurs if you wish to acquire or assign a lease. This includes checking the provisions of your commercial lease, updating rents and charges, depositing the security guarantee, examining the waiver of pre-emption rights, obtaining licencing fees and terrace rights, and dealing with registrations and formalities. With over 20 years of experience in commercial leases and assignments in France, our experts can draft, discuss, negotiate and finalise transactions on your behalf.

European Trademark & Copyright Law

Trademark law is essential to protect your trademarks and patents in France and Europe and to make sure your products, prototypes and good name are secure and not in danger of being copied. Intellectual property rights are the rights of an intellectual creation such as an idea for a business, a business pitch for a product or service or a written document or website which needs the correct copyright law to give the creator an exclusive right to use the creation for a certain period of time. Our experts can proceed with the necessary filings and administration to protect your intellectual property rights, trademarks and patents.

French Property Law

French property law is for companies wishing to manage their property, their commercial leases and their premises as tenant, landlord or owner in France. If you wish to enter into a standard commercial lease or an occupancy agreement, buy a building for your business or enter into a property lease, our experts will be on hand to negotiate your contracts. For example, setting up a commercial lease in France is highly regulated which requires knowing your rights and obligations, including security deposits, transfer of the leasehold rights, and the rental agreements which make up the French ‘Pinel Law’. We also draft or review your contracts and take the necessary steps with your co-contractors, as well as local authorities such as the town planning department or prefecture.

Collective insolvency proceedings in France

For entrepreneurs facing financial difficulties with their business, our experts are here to advise on the law regarding collective insolvency proceedings in France to help guarantee the continuation of a company's activity and maintain employment, while respecting the rights of creditors. These measures will help protect the economic fabric of your French company and the ecosystem that surrounds it (suppliers, clients, service providers, etc.) and also preserve the jobs created by your company. If you are experiencing temporary difficulties, our specialists will advise you in the use of an administration order or company voluntary arrangements. In the event of more serious difficulties, they will move towards court-supervised business recovery (turnaround) proceedings. If the difficulties are insurmountable, liquidation proceedings can be opened with a cessation of activity.

French Legal disputes & litigation

To protect the interests of your company in France in case of litigation, disputes and claims, our lawyers can act on your behalf to argue a claim (whether as claimant or defendant), whether in pre-litigation, litigation proceedings or before a Court of Justice. Being well-versed in the law, they can help you follow procedures, respond in time, and advise on whether you want to settle, ask for urgency, proceed to be judged on merit, or ask for mitigation measures – everything to defend your best interests.

Sustainable development for French companies

Sustainable development is becoming a major concern for French companies and its shareholders, investors and partners. We can help you with boosting your company’s ethics, implementing good practices to keep the trust of essential partners, avoiding sanctions, winning ethical contracts, developing sustainable projects and preparing for the future in a responsible way. We offer a range of services that includes drafting of audit reports and recommendations in compliance with French and international regulations and standards on governance, safety, human rights and environment.

For more information on legal services and to find out how Euro Start Entreprises and Wilegal can help you, contact us on 0033 (0)1 53 57 49 10 or send us an email from our contact page and we will be happy to discuss your needs.

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