Yearly Declaration of Immovable Property: Mandatory or Optional?
After a somewhat challenging launch, the "Manage My Real Estate" platform, introduced in 2023 and integrated into the income tax return, appears to be stabilizing. However, homeowners may have pressing questions regarding its use. Among these queries: is it necessary to update the platform annually? To clarify, the French television network TF1 posed the question to Patrick Viault, the technical studies director of the National Council of the Chartered Accountants' Institute on May 29.
Every year, the Institute oversees the smooth operation of the "Hello Taxes" service, which offers free assistance to taxpayers. Among the questions asked are those related to the real estate declaration platform. On TF1, Viault summarized: "If there's no change, there's nothing to fill in." It's as straightforward as that. Homeowners who have experienced changes must report them by June 30 of the following year.
The requirement to update the Real Estate Declaration in 2025 depends on whether there have been any modifications. Viault explained: "If I'm still the owner of the same property, if I haven't rented it out, if I haven't sold it, if there's been no change of tenant, if I haven't bought another one, then there's nothing to do." On the other hand, any changes should be reported by modifying the declaration. Changes made since January 1 can already be indicated on the platform. However, they will not be taken into account until the following year, according to the accountant.
Here's a summary of the advice: If there are no changes to the property, its status, or tax regulations, an annual update is generally not necessary. However, it is advisable to periodically review and update the platform to ensure ongoing compliance, security, and optimal functionality. Automatic or routine updates are considered best practice, even in the absence of new features.
- Homeowners who are self-employed, such as those involved in real-estate investing, should pay attention to the Real Estate Declaration platform to ensure compliance with the given tax regulations, particularly when there's no change in their properties or tax laws.
- As for personal finance management, it's recommended for self-employed individuals to periodically review and update the Manage My Real Estate platform for ongoing security and optimal functionality, whether or not there are new features or changes.
