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LIVING IN FRANCE

April in France, taxes, and dining out: 6 essential articles for life in France

What changes in France in April, not one but two tax-related articles you need to check out, how much you need to earn to be considered ‘rich’, how to write an ‘attestation sur l’honneur’ … and the trick to gourmet dining on a budget — they’re all in this week’s must-reads from The Local

Published: 31 March 2024 08:00 CEST
April in France, taxes, and dining out: 6 essential articles for life in France
(Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

From a day off from work and practical jokes to extended café terraces, plus changes for motorists and spring festivals to enjoy – here’s what is happening in France in April.

What changes in France in April 2024

Tax season is approaching in France so here’s our guide to what foreigners in France need to know about the 2024 French tax system – from making your first declaration to claiming tax breaks, via the rules on foreign bank accounts and second homes.

The bumper French tax guide for 2024

Speaking of taxes… From giving to charity to setting up a private pension, hiring a cleaning or childminder, there are lots of things that will earn you a tax break in France – provided you remember to declare them on your annual tax declaration.

10 tax breaks you could benefit from in France

While it is a wealthy country (the 7th largest economy in the world) France is not a particularly high-wage society – so how much money do you need to be considered wealthy by French standards?

How much money do you need to be considered rich in France?

At some point during your time in France, you will likely have to write an ‘attestation sur l’honneur’ – here’s what this document is for and how to write one properly.

How to write a French ‘attestation sur l’honneur’

If you’re feeling fancy and want to splash out on something special you might pick up the Michelin guide to find a restaurant, but did you know that there’s also a listing for restaurants that serve delicious food at lower prices?

‘Bib Gourmand’: Where can you find France’s bargain Michelin-grade restaurants?

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LIVING IN FRANCE

What are anti-mosquito apps and are they worth using in France?

Anti-mosquito smartphone apps are something of a summer hit in France – but how sound is the science behind them?

Published: 27 June 2024 15:28 CEST
What are anti-mosquito apps and are they worth using in France?

Summer in France is mosquito season. The insistent high-pitched biting pests can be a huge frustration on sultry evenings, and are a major source of revenue for pharmacists and supermarkets selling repellents, creams and insecticide sprays, to those unfortunates who provide a tasty snack for the itch-inducing insects.

Recently, efforts to prevent mosquito attacks have moved into the app sphere. A number of smartphone applications are available that claim to repel mosquitoes by emitting low-frequency sounds from the phone’s speaker. 

READ ALSO: How to prevent the spread of tiger mosquitoes in France

The idea isn’t new. And it is based on actual science. France’s Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm) said that the apps are intended to, “imitate the sound waves produced by the wing beats of … dragonflies. Female mosquitoes, which bite humans, would be repelled by this sound”.

So far, so good. The theory seems sound enough. 

READ ALSO: ‘Put a drop of detergent in the water’ – How to deal with mosquitoes in France?

But there’s a problem. 

“The [sound]waves that could possibly be heard by female mosquitoes are too powerful to be reproduced by a smartphone,” Inserm went on to say.

Possibly to cover themselves, the Anti-moustique insecticide app, available on the App Store, states in its own description: “It has not been scientifically proven that low-frequency sounds can help repel mosquitoes. For this reason, this app should be considered a joke app”.

READ ALSO Life in France: 5 plants that (allegedly) repel mosquitoes

According to Inserm, experts advise against this type of app, “at best because they are useless, at worst because they can provide a false sense of protection”, leading users to neglect other – rather more effective – approaches to protecting themselves from bites.

Anti-mosquito advice

When it comes to repelling the horrible little bastards, the French government does have some official advice.

The main thing is to have as little stagnant water around as possible – since this is where mosquitoes breed.

This includes regularly emptying vases, flower pots, as well as watering cans and pots. If you want to collect rainwater, you could cover water butts with mosquito nets or fabric to keep the mosquitoes from getting inside.

To protect yourself, try to wear long, loose and light-coloured clothing, and use a good quality insect repellent. You might also consider wearing a mosquito net head gear.

A plethora of products exist on the market, from machines that also produce the mosquito repelling noise to scented candles or smoke coils, most of these have at at least some effect, but are unlikely to keep the mossies away entirely.

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