France Accounting & Tax Glossary
14 France-specific terms explained in plain English. Every entry cites Direction générale des Finances publiques (DGFiP) or Registre national des entreprises (RNE, INPI) through the Guichet unique.
Comptes annuels and the AGO
The comptes annuels are the yearly accounts of a company, approved at the assemblée générale ordinaire (AGO) and deposited with the greffe.
FEC (fichier des écritures comptables)
The FEC is the accounting entries file that a French company must be able to give the tax office in an audit.
Liasse fiscale
The liasse fiscale is the set of tax tables filed with the IS return: tables 2033 at the réel simplifié, 2050 to 2059 at the réel normal.
Plateforme agréée (PA)
A plateforme agréée (PA) is a platform approved by the DGFiP to send and receive electronic invoices. Every VAT-registered business in France must be able to receive e-invoices through one since 1 September 2026.
Entrepreneur individuel (EI)
An entrepreneur individuel (EI) is a sole trader. The business is taxed through the owner's personal income tax, and at the réel regime the EI files a result return.
RNE and the Guichet unique
The Registre national des entreprises (RNE) is the official business register, run by the INPI. The Guichet unique is the single online counter for creating, changing and closing a company and depositing its accounts.
SARL and EURL
A société à responsabilité limitée (SARL) is a limited company with at least two members. An EURL is a SARL with one member. The majority gérant is a TNS, not an employee.
SAS and SASU
A société par actions simplifiée (SAS) is a flexible company form. A SASU is a SAS with one shareholder. Both pay IS by default.
SIREN and numéro de TVA
The SIREN is a company's 9-digit identification number. The French VAT number is FR, a 2-character key and the SIREN.
Franchise en base de TVA
The franchise en base lets a small business charge no VAT and file no VAT return, below EUR 85,000 of turnover for goods or EUR 37,500 for services.
Impôt sur les sociétés (IS)
The impôt sur les sociétés (IS) is France's corporate income tax. The normal rate is 25%, and a small company can pay 15% on the first EUR 42,500 of profit.
Micro-entrepreneur
A micro-entrepreneur is a sole trader on the simplest regime: social contributions as a percentage of turnover, a flat allowance for income tax and, below the thresholds, no VAT.
PFU (flat tax on dividends)
The prélèvement forfaitaire unique (PFU), or flat tax, is the default tax on dividends and interest paid to an individual in France: 31.4% in 2026.
TVA (VAT)
TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée) is France's VAT. The standard rate is 20%, with 10% intermediate, 5.5% reduced and 2.1% special rates.