As is the case every year, at the start of spring, sole proprietorships (apart from micro-businesses), as well as companies established on French territory, see the arrival of the time for compulsory tax declarations. In this regard, the 2023 Finance Law has introduced a number of new features. Here's a detailed review of the various business tax declarations to be made and their deadlines.
Main tax returns
Income statements
Individuals taxed on their industrial and commercial profits (BIC), their non-commercial profits (BNC) or their agricultural profits (BA) are required to file an annual income tax return by the beginning of May, in order to determine their taxable income.
Companies subject to corporate income tax must also electronically file their income tax returns with the tax authorities. In both cases, this consists of a tax return and more or less detailed appendices.
The structure of the tax return is virtually the same, whether the company is subject to income tax or corporation tax. What differs is the associated tax return.
Income tax returns
Depending on tax status (BIC or BNC), the 2031 or 2035 tax return will show the taxable income. This should then be entered on the N°2042C Pro income tax return.
A company, whether under the standard or simplified tax regime, will file a 2065 tax return. A reduced tax rate of 15% will be applied to profits up to €42,500 (new ceiling 2023). Above this amount, profits are taxed at the standard rate of 25%.
Finally, micro-entrepreneurs whose sales in 2022 did not exceed €176,200 (commercial activities) or €72,600 (craft and liberal professions), must enter the amount of their gross sales on the N°2042 C Pro tax return. Deductions are available depending on the activity (71%, 50% or 34% of sales). From 2023, the thresholds will be raised from €176,200 to €188,700 and from €72,600 to €77,700.
VAT returns
Depending on whether the company is subject to simplified or standard VAT rules, it must draw up an annual declaration summarizing all operations carried out (simplified VAT rules) or a monthly or even quarterly declaration (standard VAT rules).
CFE and CVAE declarations
For CFE (cotisation foncière des entreprises), only those setting up or taking over a business submit an initial declaration using form 1447 C SD before the end of the year in which the business is set up or taken over. The tax authorities then calculate the tax due each year.
As for the CVAE, which is exempt for companies with sales of less than €152,500, until now it had to be declared separately by dematerialized means via form N°1330-CVAE. The 2023 Finance Act will phase out the CVAE, which will cease to exist on January 1, 2024.
The 2023 tax timetable
Regardless of the year-end, and for companies subject to corporate income tax with a December 2022 year-end, the deadline for electronic filing of income tax returns is May 18, 2023.
Generally speaking, to determine the due date for filing a corporate income tax return, you need to take into account the closing date of the financial year. The tax return must always be filed within three months of the end of the financial year. In principle, an additional 15 days are allowed.
CA12 or CA12A VAT adjustment declarations, for a financial year ending December 31, 2022, must reach the tax authorities by May 3 this year. The same applies to CFE and CVAE declarations.
Tax returns must be filed within three months of the end of the financial year. For example, for a fiscal year ending September 30, the tax return must be filed by the end of December. If the fiscal year ends on December 31, 2022, the maximum filing date is May 3, 2023.
For all taxpayers subject to income tax, the online return begins on April 13 and ends, depending on the département, on May 25, June 1 and June 8, 2023.
Failure to meet these deadlines will result in penalties such as late payment interest or surcharges ranging from 10% to 80%. So be careful!