Can I Claim Office Rent and Coworking as a Business Expense in France?
Yes. Rent for premises used by the business, or a coworking membership, is a deductible company cost. VAT is deductible only where the invoice shows VAT.
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What Direction générale des Finances publiques (DGFiP) says
Rent paid for offices, a shop, a workshop or a coworking desk used by the company is a normal charge that reduces the profit subject to IS, provided it is supported by a lease or a membership contract and booked in the right period. The rent must be for the business: a company cannot deduct rent for a private home. Commercial rents often carry no VAT, and in that case there is nothing to deduct; where the landlord or the coworking operator charges VAT, the invoice shows it and the company can deduct it on the CA3 if it is registered for VAT and the premises serve its taxable activity. The BOFiP also excludes from deduction the VAT on premises that house executives or staff free of charge, so a flat provided to a director is not a way to recover VAT. Premises also bring a local tax. The cotisation foncière des entreprises (CFE) is due by every business with an activity in France unless it is exempt, with the balance due on 15 December. A new business is exempt in its creation year, provided the declaration 1447-C-SD is filed before 31 December of that year, and pays on 50% of the base in the second year. A business address service, a domiciliation, is also a deductible cost, and it is one of the documents the Guichet unique asks for at registration.
When you can claim
- Monthly rent for an office, shop or workshop under a commercial lease
- Coworking memberships and meeting-room hire used for the business
- Service charges, deposits treated as costs and agency fees for the lease
- A domiciliation (registered address) contract for the company
- Storage units used for company stock or equipment
- Insurance for the premises used by the business
When you cannot claim
- Rent or mortgage on a private home
- Accommodation provided free to a director or staff, for the VAT on it
- A deposit that will be returned, which is a receivable and not a cost
Good to know
Pro tip: Keep the lease, the latest rent notice and proof of payment together. If the company is registered at a director's home, ask your expert-comptable before claiming any share of the home costs.
Important: The CFE is separate from rent. AccountsOS tracks the 15 December date and the creation-year exemption, and the company pays through its espace professionnel.
Related expenses
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