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MyFrenchVA helps Terry navigate customs procedures to import his car into France

MyFrenchVA helps Terry navigate customs procedures to import his car into France

by | May 31, 2023 | French Business Admin

Terry moved to France in 2022. Needing assistance with the challenging customs office paperwork, Terry turned to MyFrenchVA for help. Here’s Terry’s story:

MyFrenchVA cuts through customs confusion to import his Volvo

Dealing with French customs officials can be a daunting challenge when you do not speak the language fluently. However, undaunted Terry decided to start the process for registering his Volvo V70 SE in France himself, despite only being a recent arrival into the country.

The situated was more complex though: Terry had shipped some good from the United States but had not initially declared his Volvo car, having originally decided to return the vehicle to the UK for sale. Soon after though, Terry changed his mind and applied for the form 846A (this is document you need to declare the import of vehicles from outside the EU).

Terry sent off the documents to the customs office by email and received an acknowledgement confirming their receipt. Six months later, he still had no response – and decided to call in the assistance of MyFrenchVA to take away the headache of communicating with the French authorities.

Soon after Martin Swanson from MyFrenchVA sent customs the necessary documentation and arranged for a meeting with officials to inspect his Volvo car. The inspection was quick and later Terry received his 846A import certificate.

The discussion with the customs manager ended also on an amusing note; the office was so short of staff that the official offered Terry a job to deal with the significant number of English speakers….

How MyFrenchVA helped Terry

  • Communicated by phone and email with Customs officials
  • Arranged a meeting for Terry’s vehicle to be inspected
  • Handled any enquiries promptly throughout the process
  • Outcome: Terry received his 846A certificate to legally import his Volvo car into France.

My FrenchVA

Helping English-Speakers in France 👩‍💼

We provide Virtual Administration Assistance for English-speakers living in or moving to France. Our services include:

  • Assistance with French Visas 🛂
  • Help accessing the French healthcare system 🏥
  • Vehicle registration 🚗
  • Driver licences 🚘
  • Working in France: help setting up a business or finding a job, plus access to our network of professionals 💼
  • Translation services 🌐

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Autoentrepreneurs and the letters EI – what changed on the 15th May 2022

Autoentrepreneurs and the letters EI – what changed on the 15th May 2022

by | Jun 9, 2022 | French Business Admin

On the 15th May 2022 a new law came into effect to offer Autoentrepreneurs (Sole Traders) protection for their personal assets from creditors.

Until that date, creditors could attach their personal assets (with the exception of their primary residence)  to settle any debts. Typically autoentreprenuers opted for the EIRL (Entrepreneur Individuel à Responsabilité Limitée) for such protection.

Today, every Autoentrepreneur has to add EI (Entreprise Individual) to:

  • The name of their bank account (First Name, Last Name, EI)
  • Website
  • Order Forms
  • Quotations
  • Invoices
  • Adverts
  • Business Stamps

If you are an autoentrepreneur and you bank account name doesn’t include the letters EI, or Entrepreneur Individuel  – you could face a fine of € 750.

Adding a new registered activity to your French KBIS

Adding a new registered activity to your French KBIS

by | May 23, 2022 | French Business Admin

French businesses are issued with a K (physical person) or Kbis (companies) form which displays your business registration details such as the business name, directors, SIRET number and activity.

A regulated activity would need supportive documents in France in order for the Kbis to be issued (think Estate Agents). Unregulated activities (gardening for example) do not need additional documentation to be registered.

It is best to think carefully when registering a company about which activities your company will perform. Adding them at registration will avoid the time, effort and costs of changing them later.

In order to add a new activity to your Kbis there are three key things to do.

1. Change your founding documents.

You will need to convene an extraordinary shareholder’s meeting so the shareholders can approve the change to the company’s founding documents . In French they call it “ l’object social of the Statutes“. In terms of French law, you have a month to inform the Greffe de Tribunal (Companies House) of the change.

2. Informing the Greffe de Tribunal.

This is the fun part. In order to have the Greffe accept your new activity you will need to supply:

  • A copy of the founding papers in 1. above with a covering letter from the owner (dirigeant) with the words “certifiés conformes“
  • Minutes from the meeting in 1. above showing the change was voted and approved.
  • Proof of publication in a legal announcement publication “ journal d’annonces légales“.
  • The Request for Modification duly completed.
  • The Cerfa 11682 duly completed.
  • If the activity is regulated then supportive documents would be required.
  • A cheque for € 192.01

3. Publish the annoucement

The official French website for publishing announcements is called the “Bulletin officiel des annonces civiles et commerciales” BODACC.fr. A quick Google search will reveal many companies offering this service together with text templates covering most frequent announcements.  The one you are looking for is called “Publier une annonce légale changement d’objet social.” After filling in the relevant form and payment of a nominal fee they will issue you with a proof of publication which you will need for 2. above.

myFrenchVA can assist you in adding additional activities to your French Kbis. Send us a mail on contact@myfrenchva.com or find us on Facebook.