{"id":5184,"date":"2026-03-20T09:07:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/?p=5184"},"modified":"2026-03-20T09:44:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:44:57","slug":"reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/","title":{"rendered":"How Non-Residents Can Reclaim 20% VAT on French Property Purchases"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many international investors are surprised to learn that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/french-property-vat-reclaim-for-foreign-investors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>foreigners can buy property in France<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with relatively few restrictions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In certain cases, non-resident buyers may also be able to reclaim the 20% VAT charged on the purchase price, which can significantly improve overall returns.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This opportunity usually applies when purchasing <\/span><b>new build developments, serviced residences, or commercial property investment assets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that will be used for a VAT-taxable rental activity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the French VAT rules before buying property is essential, particularly if you intend to generate rental income.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PTI Returns regularly helps non-resident investors register for French VAT, submit returns, and reclaim VAT on qualifying property purchases.<\/span><\/p> <div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\"> <div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"> <p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p> <span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div> <nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#When_VAT_Applies_in_France_New_Builds_Serviced_Residences_and_Commercial_Property\" >When VAT Applies in France (New Builds, Serviced Residences and Commercial Property)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#How_much_VAT_do_you_pay_on_commercial_property\" >How much VAT do you pay on commercial property?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#What_are_the_conditions_for_VAT_reclaim\" >What are the conditions for VAT reclaim?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#How_to_avoid_French_Capital_Gains_Tax_on_property\" >How to avoid French Capital Gains Tax on property<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#Claim_back_French_VAT_with_PTI_Returns\" >Claim back French VAT with PTI Returns<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>  <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_VAT_Applies_in_France_New_Builds_Serviced_Residences_and_Commercial_Property\"><\/span><b>When VAT Applies in France (New Builds, Serviced Residences and Commercial Property)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most traditional property purchases, VAT does not apply. However, VAT becomes relevant in several situations, particularly where the property is treated as a commercial or tourism asset.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>France VAT tax rate is generally 20%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and it may apply when purchasing:<\/span><\/p> <ul> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> new build property sold within five years of completion<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">serviced or tourism residences<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some commercial property for rent<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">property operated with hotel-style services<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <h3><b>VAT for new builds<\/b><\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">French tax law typically applies <\/span><b>VAT for new builds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when a property has not been previously occupied or is sold shortly after completion.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investors who purchase qualifying developments and operate them as a rental business may be able to <\/span><b>claim VAT on new build purchases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is particularly common in tourism developments where properties are placed into managed rental schemes.<\/span><\/p> <h3><b>VAT on residential property rent<\/b><\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standard long-term residential leases are generally exempt from <\/span><b>VAT on residential property rent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, VAT can apply if the rental activity includes hospitality-style services.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may include services such as cleaning, linen replacement, reception services, or breakfast. These conditions are often present in serviced apartments or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/changes-to-french-furnished-lettings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>furnished apartment rental <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">properties in France targeting short-term visitors.<\/span><\/p> <p><b>PTI Returns<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> helps investors structure their rental activity correctly so that VAT recovery remains compliant with French regulations.<\/span><\/p> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">  <div class=\"text-center\"><strong><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" style=\"background-color: #c33a32;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/french-property-vat-reclaim-for-foreign-investors\/#request-callback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FILE YOUR FRENCH PROPERTY VAT REFUND ONLINE<\/a><\/strong><\/div>  <\/div> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5187\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details.jpg\" alt=\"Claiming VAT on French Property purchase\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details.jpg 2121w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blonde-client-listens-to-real-estate-agent-contract-details-1400x933.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" \/><\/p> <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_VAT_do_you_pay_on_commercial_property\"><\/span><b>How much VAT do you pay on commercial property?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For properties within the VAT system, the <\/span><b>France VAT tax rate of 20%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> usually applies to the purchase price.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if an investor decides to <\/span><b>buy commercial property<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> worth \u20ac500,000, the VAT due could be \u20ac100,000. If the investment qualifies for VAT recovery, this amount may be reclaimed through the French VAT system.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is why many investors structure their purchases as <\/span><b>commercial property investment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> rather than purely residential acquisitions.<\/span><\/p> <h3><b>VAT on commercial property rent<\/b><\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some situations, landlords can choose to charge VAT on rent for commercial property. This can be beneficial because it allows the owner to recover the VAT paid on the purchase or renovation of the property.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the property is a new build located in a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R\u00e9sidence de Tourisme<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and you are required to sign a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/your-taxes-on-leaseback-rental-property-in-france\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>leaseback agreement<\/strong><\/a>, you will usually be required to register for VAT.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, the letting agency (with whom you have the contract) will collect the rent including VAT and pay the VAT directly to the French tax authorities. You will receive the rent without VAT, and you can also recover the VAT you paid on rental-related expenses.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second situation is when you buy a new build property and provide at least 3 out of the 4 required services (such as hotel-style services). In this case, you have the option to register for VAT.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you choose to register, you will charge VAT on the rent you receive. You are then responsible for paying this VAT to the tax authorities, but you can also reclaim the VAT you have paid on expenses related to the rental activity.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach is common with:<\/span><\/p> <ul> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">retail units<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">serviced residences<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tourism accommodation<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <h3><b>Claiming VAT on new build property<\/b><\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investors purchasing qualifying developments may be able to <\/span><b>claim VAT on new build property<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by registering for VAT and declaring taxable rental income.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once registered, owners must file periodic VAT returns and report rental activity to the French tax authorities.<\/span><\/p> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">  <div class=\"text-center\"><strong><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" style=\"background-color: #c33a32;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/french-property-vat-reclaim-for-foreign-investors\/#request-callback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLAIM YOUR FRENCH PROPERTY VAT REFUND ONLINE<\/a><\/strong><\/div>  <\/div> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5186\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment.jpg\" alt=\"A smiling young couple carrying boxes and a plant into their new modern French apartment, highlighting the excitement of a new home purchase.\" width=\"2120\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment.jpg 2120w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-happy-young-couple-moving-into-a-new-apartment-1400x934.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2120px) 100vw, 2120px\" \/><\/p> <h3><b>New build VAT exemption<\/b><\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are not able to organise the rental activity and therefore cannot provide at least 3 of the 4 required services, the property will not meet the conditions to opt for VAT registration.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, the property will not be eligible to recover the VAT paid on the purchase price.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this reason, investors should consider the intended rental structure before completing the purchase.<\/span><\/p> <h3><b>How to claim a VAT refund online<\/b><\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investors generally recover VAT by registering with the French tax authorities and submitting returns through the online portal.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process usually involves:<\/span><\/p> <ul> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> registering for French VAT<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reporting <\/span><b>VAT on property sales or rental activity<\/b><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">submitting periodic returns<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">requesting the <\/span><b>VAT tax refund France<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through the online system<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PTI Returns assists non-resident investors with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/french-property-vat-refund-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>how to claim a VAT refund online<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and manages the VAT return process on their behalf.<\/span><\/p> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">  <div class=\"text-center\"><strong><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" style=\"background-color: #c33a32;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/french-property-vat-reclaim-for-foreign-investors\/#request-callback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLAIM YOUR FRENCH PROPERTY VAT REFUND ONLINE<\/a><\/strong><\/div>  <\/div> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4995\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/french-property-vat-refund.jpg\" alt=\"A graphic with a torn-paper effect. The outer brown layer says &quot;French Real Estate for Foreign Investors,&quot; while the revealed white inner layer displays the text &quot;VAT Refund&quot; in blue letters.\" width=\"1400\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/french-property-vat-refund.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/french-property-vat-refund-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/french-property-vat-refund-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/french-property-vat-refund-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/french-property-vat-refund-780x408.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/french-property-vat-refund-1000x524.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If these conditions are not maintained, previously refunded VAT may be clawed back by the tax authorities.<\/span><\/p> <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_conditions_for_VAT_reclaim\"><\/span><b>What are the conditions for VAT reclaim?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To qualify for <\/span><b>VAT reclaim for new build property<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, certain conditions must normally be satisfied.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The property must usually be used in a VAT-taxable rental activity, which commonly includes serviced accommodation or managed holiday rentals.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples include:<\/span><\/p> <ul> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> serviced holiday accommodation<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tourism residences<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under these structures, investors may recover <\/span><b>VAT <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on new build houses or apartments purchased within the development. In many cases, the property must remain within the rental scheme for 20 years to keep the VAT benefit.<\/span><\/p> <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_avoid_French_Capital_Gains_Tax_on_property\"><\/span><b>How to avoid French Capital Gains Tax on property<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While VAT recovery can reduce the acquisition cost, investors should also consider <\/span><b>French Capital Gains Tax<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when eventually selling the property.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tax liability may be reduced through several factors including long-term ownership, deductible improvement works, and allowable acquisition costs.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">French Capital Gains Tax gradually reduces the longer the property is held, which can significantly lower the effective tax rate over time.<\/span><\/p> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">  <div class=\"text-center\"><strong><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" style=\"background-color: #c33a32;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/french-property-vat-reclaim-for-foreign-investors\/#request-callback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FILE YOUR FRENCH PROPERTY VAT REFUND ONLINE<\/a><\/strong><\/div>  <\/div> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5194 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer.jpg\" alt=\"A professional real estate agent in a modern office using a digital tablet to present a commercial lease and property investment data to a client.\" width=\"2120\" height=\"1415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer.jpg 2120w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-780x521.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Real-estate-agent-using-digital-tablet-to-show-property-to-potential-buyer-1400x934.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2120px) 100vw, 2120px\" \/><\/p> <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Claim_back_French_VAT_with_PTI_Returns\"><\/span><b>Claim back French VAT with PTI Returns<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reclaiming <\/span><b>20% VAT on a French property purchase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can significantly improve the return on investment, but the process involves strict eligibility rules and ongoing compliance.<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PTI Returns helps non-resident investors:<\/span><\/p> <ul> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> register for French VAT<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">file VAT returns online<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reclaim VAT on qualifying property purchases<\/span><\/li> <li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stay compliant with French tax regulations<\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are considering <\/span><b>buying property or investing in French rental property<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> PTI Returns <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can guide you through the process and help maximise your VAT recovery.<\/span><\/p> <p><b>Use PTI Returns <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to find out how much VAT you could reclaim on your French property investment.<\/span><\/p> <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">  <div class=\"text-center\"><strong><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" style=\"background-color: #c33a32;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/french-property-vat-reclaim-for-foreign-investors\/#request-callback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FILE YOUR FRENCH PROPERTY VAT REFUND ONLINE<\/a><\/strong><\/div>  <\/div> <p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many international investors are surprised to learn that foreigners can buy property in France with relatively few restrictions.\u00a0 In certain cases, non-resident buyers may also be able to reclaim the 20% VAT charged on the purchase price, which can significantly improve overall returns. This opportunity usually applies when purchasing new build developments, serviced residences, or&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&#8594;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":5193,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"yes","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[291,290,294,295,292,296,297,293],"class_list":["post-5184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-french-property-tax","tag-claiming-vat-on-new-build-properties","tag-vat-for-new-build-properties","tag-vat-on-commercial-property","tag-vat-on-commercial-property-rent","tag-vat-on-new-build-houses","tag-vat-on-property-sales","tag-vat-on-residential-property-rent","tag-vat-reclaim-for-new-build-real-estate"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Claim Back 20% VAT on French Real Estate Purchases | PTI Returns.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Buy property in France and save 20%! Learn the VAT reclaim process for non-residents, from rental commitments to tax registration. Start your French investment today.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Claim Back 20% VAT on French Real Estate Purchases | PTI Returns.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Buy property in France and save 20%! Learn the VAT reclaim process for non-residents, from rental commitments to tax registration. Start your French investment today.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PTIreturns.com Blog | Property Tax Information for Nonresidents\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PropertyTaxInternational\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PropertyTaxInternational\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-20T09:07:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-20T09:44:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/real-estate-agents-working-on-selling-properties.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2114\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1418\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"PTI Returns\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@PropertyTaxInt\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@PropertyTaxInt\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"PTI Returns\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Claim Back 20% VAT on French Real Estate Purchases | PTI Returns.","description":"Buy property in France and save 20%! Learn the VAT reclaim process for non-residents, from rental commitments to tax registration. Start your French investment today.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Claim Back 20% VAT on French Real Estate Purchases | PTI Returns.","og_description":"Buy property in France and save 20%! Learn the VAT reclaim process for non-residents, from rental commitments to tax registration. Start your French investment today.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/","og_site_name":"PTIreturns.com Blog | Property Tax Information for Nonresidents","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PropertyTaxInternational\/","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PropertyTaxInternational\/","article_published_time":"2026-03-20T09:07:05+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-20T09:44:57+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2114,"height":1418,"url":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/real-estate-agents-working-on-selling-properties.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"PTI Returns","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@PropertyTaxInt","twitter_site":"@PropertyTaxInt","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"PTI Returns","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/"},"author":{"name":"PTI Returns","@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0707d30c8aae6cc5869615145aaa4d08"},"headline":"How Non-Residents Can Reclaim 20% VAT on French Property Purchases","datePublished":"2026-03-20T09:07:05+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-20T09:44:57+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/"},"wordCount":1139,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/real-estate-agents-working-on-selling-properties.jpg","keywords":["claiming vat on new build properties","vat for new build properties","vat on commercial property","vat on commercial property rent","vat on new build houses","vat on property sales","vat on residential property rent","vat reclaim for new build real estate"],"articleSection":["French Property Tax"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/","name":"Claim Back 20% VAT on French Real Estate Purchases | PTI Returns.","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/real-estate-agents-working-on-selling-properties.jpg","datePublished":"2026-03-20T09:07:05+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-20T09:44:57+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0707d30c8aae6cc5869615145aaa4d08"},"description":"Buy property in France and save 20%! Learn the VAT reclaim process for non-residents, from rental commitments to tax registration. Start your French investment today.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/real-estate-agents-working-on-selling-properties.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/real-estate-agents-working-on-selling-properties.jpg","width":2114,"height":1418,"caption":"Reclaim 20% VAT on French Property Purchases"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/reclaim-vat-on-french-property-purchases\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Non-Residents Can Reclaim 20% VAT on French Property Purchases"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/","name":"PTIreturns.com Blog | Property Tax Information for Nonresidents","description":"Tax information, hints and news. Exclusive for overseas property investors and owners.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0707d30c8aae6cc5869615145aaa4d08","name":"PTI Returns","description":"Many international property owners overpay on their tax bill because they simply do not understand their tax entitlements. Since 1996, Property Tax International has been supporting property investors around the world to minimize their tax bill and maximize their profit potential. With that in mind, we have created this blog to empower every property owner to better understand their tax responsibilities and entitlements.","sameAs":["http:\/\/ptireturns.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PropertyTaxInternational\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/propertytaxinternational\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/property-tax-international\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/author\/seoptireturns-com\/"}]}},"modified_by":"Asen Yanev","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5184"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5200,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5184\/revisions\/5200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptireturns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}