Rural Revitalization Areas (RRZs) and France Rural Revitalization Areas (FRRs): tax exemptions

Verified 01 July 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A new zoning France ruralités revitalization (FRR) has been in place since 1er  July 2024 to support fragile rural territories. Thus, companies who establish themselves in these areas can benefit from tax and social security exemptions. Most of the municipalities classified as rural revitalization areas (RZs) are included in the new zoning (RRFs). Municipalities which are not reclassified as FRR continue to benefit from the exemptions provided for in the ZRR.

To check if your municipality is in an FRR or ZRR area, a simulator is available:

Check whether a municipality is located in the FRR zone or in the ZRR

FRR

The France ruralités revitalization (FRR) scheme has 2 levels of tax benefits:

  • Base Level ‘FRR zone’ for municipalities with less than 30 000 inhabitants located in a public intermunicipal cooperation institution (EPCI)), a department or living area that meets certain population density and income criteria. The classification of municipalities as an FRR zone is determined by a decree which enters into force on 1 July 2024 for 6 years.
  • Enhanced “FRR +” level for the most vulnerable territories. The criteria are being developed. This level of zoning will take place from 2025.

FYI  

To check if your municipality is in an FRR or ZRR area, a simulator is available:

Check whether a municipality is located in the FRR zone or in the ZRR

All conditions the following must be combined to qualify for tax exemptions:

Create or resume a company

The FRR scheme shall apply to the creation and take-over of companies from 1er July 2024 in these areas.

Company recovery is a change in the direction of a company. The trade-in date is the starting point for counting the exemption period.

In some cases, tax exemptions do not apply to:

  • Activities benefiting or having benefited, during one or more of the five years preceding the year of creation or takeover, from other tax relief schemes (urban free zones (ZFU), young innovative companies (JEI), the employment areas to be revitalized (BER), the urban basins to be revitalized (BUD), Defense Restructuring Areas ZRD, etc.)
  • The creation or resumption of activities or companies following the transfer, concentration (grouping of companies) or restructuring of activities previously carried on in the FRR zones except for the remainder of the period
  • Resumption of activity or company within the family circle. However, the first take-back operation in favor of descendants of the transferor of the company may benefit from the tax exemption.
  • Cases of takeovers or restructuring within the family circle resulting solely from a change in social form (exclusion of all forms of takeovers ‘by oneself’). Individual business For example, transformation of a company into a limited liability company (LLC).

Nature of the activity

The company set up or taken over must be engaged in industrial, commercial, craft or professional activities.

The opening of an office by a doctor, the installation of a craftsman, the opening of a franchise or a subsidiary (with fewer than 11 employees) may benefit from the tax exemption scheme of the FRR scheme.

FYI  

Agricultural activities are not covered by this exemption scheme.

Number of staff in the company

The company created or resumed must use less than 11 employees.

The number of employees is calculated for each financial year in accordance with the rules of social security law. For more details on the establishment plan, see the dedicated card.

Tax system

The company that was created or resumed must be subject to a actual taxation system of the results.

For commercial and craft activities, the company is subject to the actual taxation system results, which may be normal or simplified. In the case of liberal activities, it is the controlled declaration procedure which applies.

Warning  

The micro-entrepreneurs which are subject to the micro-tax system are therefore excluded from the FRR zones.

Exclusive location in FRR zone

The head office and all the activity and means of exploitation must be located in the FRR zone; this is the condition of exclusive location activity.

The tax exemption therefore applies where the activity is sedentary. On the other hand, where the activity is carried out outside the FRR zone, even on an ad hoc basis, the exemption is only applicable if the company has a turnover outside the FRR zone which does not exceed 25%. In this case, the exemption is maintained in proportion to the turnover in the FRR zone.

Example :

A doctor whose practice is located in the FRR zone but who works one day a week in a practice outside the FRR zone benefits from a tax exemption in proportion to the turnover in the FRR zone.

Companies who exercise non-sedentary activity may also benefit from tax exemptions under certain conditions. A non-sedentary activity is largely carried out by customers: this is the case of a construction company.

In order to benefit from tax exemptions, the share of the activity carried out outside the FRR zone must not exceed 25% turnover. The exemption will then apply only to the profit resulting from the activity carried on in the FRR zone.

Companies set up or taken over in the areas France ruralités revitalization (FRR) from 1 July 2024 benefit from a scheme exempting their profits.

Amount and duration of the income tax exemption

The income tax exemption is limited in time.

  • The First 5 years, the exemption is total.
  • The 6e year, profits are taxed for 25% of their amount
  • The 7e year, profits are taxed for 50% of their amount.
  • The 8e year, profits are taxed for 75% of their amount.

The exemption from income tax must comply with the European de minimis aid rules. This allows tax relief provided that the total amount granted to a single company does not exceed €300,000 over a “slippery” period of 3 years.

Procedure for obtaining exemption

The company does not have to take any steps to benefit from the income tax exemption. She only has to indicate the amount of profit on its annual declaration of profit or loss.

For more details on the income tax return, you can refer to the income tax forms (in case of non-commercial profits (NBC) or in case of Industrial and Commercial Benefits (BIC)) and to business tax (IS).

Non-cumulation with other exemption schemes

If the company qualifies for several exemption schemes (Defense Restructuring Area (ZRD), urban basins to be revitalized (BUD), young innovative companies (JEI), rural business revitalization zones, etc.), it must make a choice. To opt for FRR zoning, it has 6 months after the start of activity. This choice is definitive.

The option must be notified to the EIS: titleContent of the company's reporting place.

Who shall I contact

Exemption decided by the municipality

The exemption of CFE in the FRR zone must be decided by a decision of the municipality or theEPCI: titleContent .

Companies entering the FRR zone may benefit from an exemption of company property tax (CFE). It's not systematic. Indeed, the municipality orpublic institutions for inter-municipal cooperation with own taxation (EPCI) shall take a decision on the principle of exemption.

FYI  

Municipalities or EPCIs with their own taxation system have up to 1er October (year N) to decide on the exemption of companies from real estate contributions (CFE). This will apply from 1er January of the following year (N+1).

Amount and duration of the CFC exemption

The exemption from CFE shall apply to:

  • from the year following that in which creation of the establishment
  • either from 2eyear following that of the extension of an establishment.

This exemption is limited in time.

  • The First 5 years, the CFE exemption is total.
  • The 6e year, theabatement is 75% of the tax base of the CFE.
  • The 7e the abatement is of 50% of the tax base of the CFE.
  • The 8e the abatement is of 25% of the tax base of the CFE.

Eligibility for the exemption must comply with the European rules on de minimis aid. This allows tax relief provided that the total amount granted to a single company does not exceed €300,000 over a “slippery” period of 3 years.

Procedure for obtaining exemption

In the case of establishment or change of operator, the company wishing to benefit from the CFE exemption must apply for it with Form no 1447-C-SD:

Initial Declaration 1447-C-SD (CFE)

In case of extension of the establishment, the exemption can be requested with the form n°1447-M-SD

Amending Declaration 1447-M-SD (CFE)

FYI  

For subsequent years, a declaration is to be made only in the event of a change in the conditions which qualify for exemption.

The exemption must be claimed from the company Tax Office (SIE) on which each company establishment depends.

Who shall I contact

Non-cumulation with other exemption schemes

The company may not combine the exemption from CFE with that of the priority areas of the city (QPV) or young innovative companies (JEI), etc.

If it qualifies to benefit from more than one CFE exemption scheme, it must opt for one or the other of these schemes. This option must be taken before 1er January of the year in which the exemption takes effect.

This option is definitive.

Exemption decided by the municipality

Property tax exemption on built property (TFPB) is not systematic. It must be decided by a decision of the municipality or the EPCI .

This exemption applies to real estate situated in the FRR zones and connected to an establishment which benefits from the CFE exemption.

FYI  

Municipalities or EPCIs with their own taxation system have up to 1er October (year N) to decide on the CFE exemption. This will apply from 1er January of the following year (N+1).

On the deliberation of the municipalities and EPCI: titleContent In these cases, an exemption from TFPB may be granted in favor of hotels, tourist furniture and bed and breakfasts.

Amount and duration of the TFPB exemption

The property tax exemption applies to the same extent and for the same duration as the CFE exemption. It shall start from 1er January of the year following the attachment of the immovable to an activity qualifying for the exemption.

  • The First 5 years, the exemption is total.
  • The 6e the abatement is of 75% the tax base of the TFPB.
  • The 7e year, the exemption is 50% the tax base of the TFPB.
  • The 8e year, the exemption is 25% the tax base of the TFPB.

Eligibility for the exemption must comply with the European rules on de minimis aid. This allows tax relief provided that the total amount granted to a single company does not exceed €300,000 over a “slippery” period of 3 years.

Procedure for obtaining exemption

The exemption applies to real estate situated in the FRR zones and connected to an establishment that qualifies for the CFE exemption.

In order to benefit from this exemption, the company must declare the identification details of the property at the property tax center of the location of the property before 1er January of the year of exemption. and on a model established by the administration, the identification elements of the buildings.

For more details on the Property Tax Return for Built Properties (TFPB), see the dedicated card to this tax.

Non-cumulation with other exemption schemes

The company may not combine the exemption from TFPB with that of the priority areas of the city (QPV) or young innovative companies (JEI), job pools to be revitalized (BUD), etc.

If it qualifies for several TFPB exemption schemes, it must opt for one or the other of these schemes. This option must be taken before 1er January of the year in which the exemption takes effect.

This option is definitive.

ZRR

Municipalities which are not reclassified as FRR continue to benefit from the exemptions provided for in the ZRR.

Companies concerned by the exemption from income tax or business tax

The exemption from income tax (IR) or business tax (SI) is granted to a company that has been created or taken over before june 30, 2024 and that respects 5 conditions following:

  • Engage in an industrial, commercial, craft or professional activity
  • Have its registered office and activities located in an RRZ
  • To be under the effective taxation regime
  • Have less than 11 employees in DTA: titleContent or CSD: titleContent minimum 6 months
  • Have less than 50%its capital held by other businesses

Please note

This exemption applies to companies classified as ZRR before 1er July 2024 and which are not reclassified in the zone France ruralité revitalization (FRR). The list of municipalities classified in an ZRR area is given in this document.

If the company realizes more than 25% of its turnover outside of the ZRR, the part that exceeds 25% is imposed.

Example :

A road haulage business may benefit from the tax exemption scheme if the place where the vehicles are normally based, the place where maintenance facilities are located and the place where actual management is located are in the ZRR. Account must also be taken of the proportion of turnover achieved in the ZRR.

In order to calculate the actual turnover in the ZRR, the place where the service is provided must be considered. For goods transport activities, the place of performance of the service is located in ZRR if the place of loading and/or delivery is located in ZRR.

Excluded companies

A company that meets any of the following characteristics is excluded exemption:

  • Have a financial, banking, insurance, property rental management or sea fishing activity
  • Being a micro-company
  • Making agricultural profits
  • Be created by extending an activity that already existed
  • Be set up by transfer of an activity carried on in a company which is already exempt

FYI  

In cases of familial transmission, only 1re transmission is exempt. In addition, the take-over and restructuring of staff must have taken place after 30 December 2017.

Amount and duration of exemption from income tax or business tax

The income tax exemption is limited in time.

  • The First 5 years, the exemption is total.
  • The 6e year, profits are taxed for 25% of their amount
  • The 7e year, profits are taxed for 50% of their amount.
  • The 8e year, profits are taxed for 75% of their amount.

The exemption from income tax shall be limited to €300,000 over 3 rolling fiscal years depending on the application of the de minimis rule.

The period must therefore include the current fiscal year, as well as the 2 previous fiscal years. Compliance with this ceiling shall be assessed at the time of the date of granting each new de minimis aid. For each new de minimis aid granted, account shall be taken of the total amount of aid de minimis granted during the previous 3 years.

Beyond this amount, the aid must be notified to the European Commission.

Approach

The entrepreneur doesn't have to take any particular steps.

Exemption is automatic after completing the line in the company's income tax return to the companies Tax Office (SIE).

Who shall I contact

The company can check with the tax office to see if it meets the conditions. Failure to respond for 3 months is deemed acceptance.

Please note

If the company is entitled to several different exemption schemes (ZRR, QPV, ZFU-TE, BER, rural business revitalization areas, etc.), it has 6 months to choose the one linked to an RRZ. This choice is definitive.

Companies concerned

The CFE is one of the 2 components of the Economic and Territorial Contribution (ETC). It is a business tax based only on property subject to property tax. It is payable by professionals habitually engaged in self-employed activity on 1er January of the taxation year.

The company shall be exempt from CFE if it meets one of the following conditions:

  • Extension or creation, conversion or takeover of establishments engaged in industrial activities or in scientific and technical research, or in the provision of management, studies, engineering and data-processing services
  • Creation of activities by craftsmen, registered in the National Register of companies (RNE), who carry out manufacturing, processing, repair or service work and for whom the remuneration for the work represents more than 50% of turnover
  • Creation of commercial activity and resumption of commercial or craft activity carried out by a company carrying out the same type of activity, with less than 5 employees and settled in a municipality of less than 2 000 inhabitants

FYI  

A territorial authority or a EPCI: titleContent may grant a partial or total exemption from TCA and property tax on built property (TFPB) to a SMB engaged in a commercial or craft activity in an RRZ. The CFC exemption is automatic unless the community eliminates it.

Amount and Duration

The exemption is automatic and concerns the whole of the CET (CFE and CVAE).

Its duration is up to 5 years.

Exemption must be less than €300,000 over 3 rolling fiscal years. This is the application of the de minimis rule which allows aid granted to be no more than €300,000 by company over a period of 3 rolling years.

The period must therefore include the current fiscal year, as well as the 2 previous fiscal years. Compliance with this ceiling shall be assessed at the time of the date of granting each new de minimis aid. For each new de minimis aid granted, account should be taken of the total amount of aid de minimis granted during the previous 3 years.

Approach

In order to benefit from the exemption from the CET, the company must send the following two forms to the companies Tax Office (SIE):

  • the form cerfa no. 10694 at the tax center with the sending of the annual declaration of CFE on 3 May following the year of completion of the exempt transaction,
  • the form cerfa no. 14187, by 31 December of the year in which the activity was created.

In the case of the extension or establishment of industrial establishments or scientific and technical research, the exemption shall apply without formality. In other cases, it is subject to authorization.

Specific amending declaration 1465-SD (CFE)

Initial Declaration 1447-C-SD (CFE)

Who shall I contact

Local authorities and EPCI: titleContent The following companies located in an RRZ may exempt from property tax on built-up property (TFPB):

  • Hotels
  • Furniture for tourism
  • Bed and Breakfast

The company must meet the following 2 criteria:

  • Employ fewer than 11 employees in the penultimate year before taxation
  • Earn an annual turnover (excluding taxes) of less than €2 million in the penultimate year before taxation or in the last 12-month fiscal year (closed fiscal year).

The exemption applies to premises which are used solely for the accommodation activity.

The company must complete the form cerfa n° 15532 and send it to the property tax center responsible for his municipality.

Apply for property tax exemption on built-up property (TFPB) for hotels, tourist furniture or bed and breakfast in rural revitalization areas (RRZs)

Who shall I contact

In RRZs, local and regional authorities and EPCI: titleContent may exempt of residential tax on second homes, the following premises:

  • Furniture for tourism
  • Bed and Breakfast

The exemption applies to premises which are used solely for the accommodation activity.

The company must complete the form cerfa n° 13567 and send it to the property tax center responsible for his municipality.

Request the exemption from the housing tax for bed and breakfasts and tourist furniture located in rural revitalization areas (RRZs)

Who shall I contact