Working on the French Riviera if You're an Artist or Writer

If you’re an English speaking artist who lives in France, you’re considered self-employed – unless you have a binding contract of employment.  If you don’t (and if you’re a freelancer, you probably won’t), you should register your activities at the Chambre de Metiers of the department you live in.

Shortly after you’ve registered, the l’INSEE (the National Institute of Statistics) issues you a SIREN company registration number and an APE code which specifies the type of activity that you do.  You need these identification numbers to prove your commercial registration Called a D1 or Kbis).

Artists and writer’s income is subject to income tax in the category of non-commercial property profits BNC) which applies to most other types of self-employed workers.

If you’re a graphic artist or fulltime artist, you also have to declare the start of your artistic endeavors to the Maison des Artistes (which handles social security matters for professional artists) – this has to be done the first time you invoice a client for work performed or enter into a contract to sell your work.

If you have questions, you can get in touch with your local department’s Chamber of Commerce to get help in going through the labrinth of paperwork that’s required.

One thing you should know – it can be very difficult to get started as a freelancer her, depending on what you do.  It helps if you have a financial cushion behind you to start with.  In some cases – once registered, you have to start paying social security and other taxes – even if you’re not making any money in France!

Tags:Artists and Writers,Living and Working in France

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