Tax returns

Regardless of whether you're making any money, you must complete your tax return every year. Filing your own tax return or appearing on your parents', what's the difference?

SHOULD I DECLARE MY INCOME ALONE OR STAY AS A DEPENDENT ON MY PARENTS’?

From the age of 18, students can either remain associated with their parents' tax household or file their own tax return. They can remain as a dependent on their parents’ return until they turn 25, with students accounting for a tax half-portion. After this, they must file their own tax return.

If students file their own return, they can benefit from various advantages (various rates based on the family quotient, etc.), but parents will lose the benefit from their tax portion and certain allocations.

Each option has its own advantages and/or disadvantages. It is therefore important to simulate the different scenarios to determine the most beneficial based on your family situation.

If you aren't sure, speak to the tax office (centre des impôts).

WHAT INCOME NEEDS TO BE DECLARED?

Not all student income needs to be declared, whether or not you are filing your own tax return or your parents’.

This applies, for example, to grants based on social criteria, and internship gratuities if they do not exceed a certain annual sum (...).

Important! Some academic grants are taxable and need to be declared. Find out about procedures for declaring your grants.

On the other hand, other income such as salaries must be declared: income from your student job/summer job/salaried activity carried out in parallel with your studies. 

If you earned more than €4,618 (3 times the SMIC) in 2020 and you were under 26 years old on January 1, 2020, income above €4,618 will be subject to taxation.
Published on October 15, 2021