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January is the perfect time to get your financial house in order. A small amount of organisation now can save considerable stress later. It can also help you avoid some of the classic, costly mistakes many people make when navigating the French system.

1: Check your residency position

If you moved recently, plan to move soon, or divide your life between France and another country, January is the ideal time to confirm where you were actually resident last year. Many people assume this is obvious, but the rules can be surprisingly nuanced. 

Residency matters because it determines which country taxes what. Get it wrong and you can end up with unexpected bills or double reporting.

If you are planning a move this year, the timing of that move can directly impact your tax obligations in both countries, so it is worth thinking ahead.

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2: Review your investment and savings structure

Ensure your investments are structured in the most advantageous way for French tax purposes. Many newcomers start by keeping their money exactly where it is, and only rethink this strategy after discovering their arrangements are far from efficient under the French system.

France offers several tax-friendly structures, with the assurance vie being the most widely used. It is flexible, remarkably efficient, and can be tailored to your personal goals. 

The beginning of the year is a good time to check that your investments within it still reflect your objectives. Markets move, your life changes, and your portfolio should adjust as needed.

It is also sensible to confirm that the provider is using tax-efficient reporting for French residents. A good structure can yield poor results if the reporting is not compliant. 

Independent advice from someone who understands both systems can prevent costly mistakes.

3: Update your beneficiary choices

Whether you already live in France or plan to arrive soon, your beneficiary choices should reflect your wishes and comply with French succession rules if you are leaving your assets through your will. 

For those with an assurance vie, the beneficiary clause is crucial. It sits outside the estate for most situations and can offer greater flexibility when planning for children, blended families, or cross-border complications. It is wise to read it once a year. It takes less than five minutes and avoids awkward surprises later.

If you have a French will or a foreign will with assets in France, January is a good moment to check that everything still aligns with your intentions. Life moves quickly. Wills do not update themselves. 

4: Prepare for the May tax declaration

A little organisation in January makes all the difference. You are declaring for 2025, which is now over, so you should already have most of the information you require.

Create a file, digital or physical, and start placing relevant documents into it as the year begins: bank statements, investment summaries, evidence of any gains or losses, pension income, rental income, or anything else that may be relevant. 

If you have cryptocurrency, now is the time to understand which transactions are taxable and which are not. This avoids the annual scramble for missing figures and eliminates the stress of last-minute calculations.

If you are planning to become a resident this year, use January to understand how the first declaration works. 

5: Check any cross-border consequences

French tax interacts with UK and other foreign arrangements in ways that often surprise people. 

At the start of the year, it is worth checking three things. First, whether your pension arrangements remain tax-efficient in France. Second, whether any foreign property decisions need to be timed carefully. 

Third, whether your inheritance plans still function correctly in all countries concerned. Cross-border planning is rarely complicated once you understand the rules, but it does require periodic review.

6: Plan your year rather than reacting to it

The French system rewards foresight. The timing of investment withdrawals, the decision to sell a property, or the moment you open an assurance vie all have consequences.

Consider what you intend to do this year. Are you planning a move? Are you expecting a large purchase or sale? Are you considering restructuring your investments? Thinking about these questions early allows you to act deliberately.

For those planning to relocate to France in 2026, this is the ideal moment to begin preparing. Understand how residency works. 

Consider, for example, whether your UK ISA or other investments remain efficient once resident in France. 

Review your pension planning. Think about your long-term objectives and how they align with the French system.

Most mistakes happen before people arrive, not after. A little work now can save you thousands later.

Robert Kent is a financial adviser with