Nowhere on the tax form is there any info on - social charges for tax resident foreigners. It was just today I saw something in the current Connexion that said that foreigners whose health, pension cost were met by their government, only pay 7.5% in social charges. This makes a big difference from the French 17.02%. Can any member confirm this as a fact. 3 years ago my wife cashed in an ISA which only had one share which she bought in 1989, I'm sure she got hooked for the French social charge. It was obvious that ISAs were'nt worth keeping in France, having to pay taxes on a selling a share with a profit, instead of reinvesting the whole. AFAIK there is no incentive for the ordinary French to invest.

Talking with ordinary French people, they havn't got a clue about the markets. I use to enjoy going into Barclays main branch in Hove to meet up with other guys where we discussed our investment strategies. There was a monitor with Market Eye always on. Management used to look at us with suspicion but couldn't do anything since we all had accounts there.

 Does anyone know of a French equivalent to the cheap UK dealing platforms?