If there is one thing that country clubs have in common it’s that no matter where you are in the world, you will always be charged a swimming pool tax.
The amount of the tax varies by region but it’s usually somewhere between โฌ20 and โฌ50 per year. If you are thinking of buying a house in France you might want to consider the cost of maintaining a pool. It can add up quickly!
Here is a quick guide to estimating how much swimming pool tax you will need to pay in France.
Table of Contents
The Regions With The Highest Taxes
The Ile-de-France region has the highest rate of the swimming pool tax in France with โฌ45 being the average annual cost. The town of Paris has the highest rate in the country, โฌ60. You’ll find the cost is usually between โฌ45 and โฌ60 per year. Other popular areas with high swimming pool taxes are Bordeaux, Lyon, and Lille. The French authorities say that the high cost of living and labour in the Ile-de-France region is the reason behind the high swimming pool tax. People in other parts of the country can claim that the cost of living is also a factor contributing to the high rate. The French government does not disclose any statistics regarding the number of people who use swimming pools in France, but with almost everyone owning a pool it is safe to assume there will always be someone swimming or otherwise using the pool. The French government does collect some swimming pool data and publishes it annually. The most recent figures indicate there are around 5.1 million registered swimming pools in France with a combined total of 1.5 billion hours of pool use per year. The French government does not disclose the number of unregistered pools but it is estimated there are around 200,000 more that exist but have not been registered.
The Areas Where You Can Claim Tax Deduction
If you are a taxpayer and you claim that the pool is your principal place of residence then you can deduct the amount you paid in swimming pool tax from your taxable income. The French government will then refund you the amount depending on the number of hours you spend in the pool. To be able to claim this tax deduction you need to ensure that the pool is attached to your residence (usually your main residence) and that you use it regularly. You cannot claim this tax deduction if you use any other residence or if you use the pool less than three times per week. You can also claim this deduction if you are disabled and need assistance in getting in or out of the pool.
How Much Does It Cost To Maintain A Swimming Pool?
If you have a pool and you want to keep it maintained you will need to cover the cost of pool maintenance and electricity. You can get a swimming pool maintenance contract for around โฌ500 per year which will include pool cleaning, chemicals, and electricity. You cannot get this service for less than โฌ500 per year and most places require you to commit to at least two years of maintenance beforehand. There are similar services that charge around โฌ600 per year with some places offering additional services like health club memberships or childcare while you work out. The average cost to run a household with kids in France is โฌ2000 per month. If you are able to get the pool maintenance for โฌ500 per year then it can be a great option for lower income households that cannot afford to hire a person to look after their pool.
Other things to consider is how much does the pooling service charge per hour and whether or not you should get a solar pool heater. A 5-star hotel pays around โฌ80 per hour for a pool person to clean their pool. If you are doing the cleaning yourself then it can cost around โฌ160 per hour. Hotels that allow guests to swim in their pool will often have additional charges imposed such as โฌ40 for every hour that the pool is open or โฌ60 for each half hour. All of this adds up and if you want to keep your pool clean then you might want to consider investing in a solar pool heater. These days they are quite affordable and with the hot season quickly approaching it can be a cost effective solution to keep your pool clean. The French government does not specifically impose any rules regarding the size of the pool but the general rule is that the larger the pool the higher the rate of the tax. Smaller pools that are around 10ร5 metres in size are assessed at a lower rate. The smaller the pool the more you will pay in swimming pool tax.
In conclusion, if you live in France and you are considering buying a pool then it might be best to do your research regarding the cost of owning a pool. It can be a useful tool for calculating how much money you can afford to spend on but it can also be a pain if you are not aware of all its implications. The French government does not disclose any statistics regarding the number of people who own pools but it is estimated there are around five million pools in France of which around four million are registered. With the world looking for a new place to live, the French government is likely to see an increase in the number of people looking to purchase a pool. If you are considering buying a pool in France then you might want to think about the cost of ownership and what benefits it brings. Pool ownership is associated with a higher social status in the country so if you can afford it then it might be a good idea to buy a pool and make the most of it.