The message from the French tax office
It tells us what the office needs to check: floor area, rooms, ancillary spaces or the property record.
Floor area
measurement
Has the French tax office asked you to check a floor area or room count? We can help you identify which measurements you need to document your home.
A request from the French tax office?
Start with the document you received
Whether you received a letter, a message in your tax account or noticed a discrepancy with an old plan, tell us what needs checking. Before the visit, we'll agree which rooms, outbuildings and types of floor area to measure.
Which floor area
do you need to check?
MeasurementWhat to know
Habitable floor area
It excludes some ancillary areas and any parts with a head height of less than 1.80 m. It does not cover every area listed in the tax record.
Actual floor area for tax purposes
It is measured at floor level between walls or partitions. The French tax authority (DGFiP) distinguishes the main area from outbuildings and other ancillary areas. An old habitable floor area report does not establish that the tax record is wrong.
Carrez private floor area
This is the private floor area of a unit in a co-owned property. A Carrez certificate does not replace a measurement tailored to a request from the tax office.
Why does the tax office list more rooms? In a French listing, a T3 usually means a living room and two bedrooms. The tax record may also count the kitchen and bathroom, so a different total does not necessarily mean an error.
Preparing for
the appointment
Gather the documents you already have. There is no need to get new ones before we speak.
Describe my requestYour plans and previous measurements
Keep the names and methods on any plans, Carrez certificates or habitable floor area reports so we can compare like with like.
Access to the home
Have the keys ready and arrange access to any rooms and outbuildings to be measured.
Answers
before the visit.
Frequently asked questionsDoes a larger area in my tax account mean there is an error?
Not necessarily. The actual area used by the tax office differs from habitable floor area and Carrez area. The tax record may include spaces excluded from the habitable floor area calculation. Compare only figures calculated using the same method.
Why is the room count different from the listing?
The tax room count does not automatically match a T3 or T4 designation in a French property listing. The French tax authority (DGFiP) classifies rooms by their type and use and may count the kitchen and bathroom.
Is my Carrez or habitable floor area certificate enough?
It can help us prepare but does not prove that the area shown in your tax account is wrong. Send us the request you received so we can identify the measurement needed.
Will the report reduce my property tax?
We cannot guarantee a reduction. The report records the property's features. The tax authority reviews the documents and decides whether to correct its records. Other factors also affect the tax.
What will I receive and how much will it cost?
The quote lists the spaces to measure, the method and the documents you will receive. We can consider a measured floor plan if you need one. We confirm the price and delivery arrangements according to the property and scope.
The official
procedures
Official sourcesFrench Directorate-General of Public Finances
Correcting a property record and challenging a tax notice are separate procedures. The tax authority makes the decision. A challenge does not remove your obligation to pay the tax.
How the French property tax portal defines actual floor area and the number of rooms.
How to contact the tax office and include supporting documents.