Archive for the ‘economy’ Category

Taxes: how to declare his income from movable

May 20, 2012 - 5:52 am Comments Off

 

Revenue for your financial savings are, for the majority of them, the statement pre-printed or digital version (item 2 on page 3 of form 2042). Check the amounts pre-printed with statements No. 2561 ter sent by the institutions that you have paid the income (banks, insurance companies …). By totaling the amounts of all readings for each income category, you have to find the same amounts as those pre-printed. Otherwise, fix them in the white boxes of the statement pre-printed or online if you meet your obligations via the Internet.

Attention capital income of your minor children or adults attached to your tax home were not included on the pre-printed statement. Add them to your household income.

We present below the points on which you must pay particular attention this year.

Dividends

If you have not opted for the withholding tax, your total dividend to be paid 2DC box. Are primarily concerned, the shares held off PEA and mutual funds invested in equities. The amount reported is a gross amount. Do not deduct child care expenses, or social taxes paid on that income. Only prospective collection costs may be deducted from the amount shown 2DC box on page 3. Such income is taxed after applying a 40% deduction and a deduction of € 1,525 (single) or € 3050 (couple). Do not deduct the tax deductions. They will be applied automatically by the IRS.

The products of life insurance contracts

Products relating to withdrawals from contracts of at least 8 years are charged after application of a tax year of 4600 € (single) or € 9200 (couple), that you have decided whether to levy (PFL ) for these products. You do not have to hide this reduction of your taxable earnings. The administration will do. If there is no option for the PFL, the products must be included 2CH box. If you opted for the withholding, these products are brought 2DH box on a gross (before application of the levy).

For contracts of less than 8 years, the products are subject to the schedule of income tax or, alternatively, the PFL 35% (contracts of less than 4 years) or 15% (range of service contracts between 4 and 8). They must be declared 2EE online if they have undergone the PFL, online or otherwise 2CT. Caution, if you sign a paper return, you must attach to your return No. 2042 No. 2561 printed ter.

Income from real estate companies

If you have received, in 2011, income from exempt profits of a publicly traded real estate investment company (SIIC) or a company in real estate investment company with variable capital (SPPICAV), you must make corrections to the amounts preprinted on your return. These corrections are necessary whether you choose or not to the standard deduction in respect of that income. Refer to our 23 and 24 of the instruction I-5 4-12 21 March 2012 (available on www.impots.gouv.fr), where the corrections to be made are detailed.

Deductible expenses

You can deduct from your income from shares or bonds or income related child care expenses (but not the fees of a portfolio manager). These costs are shown on the statements ter 2561. Attention, the amount of these fees is not preprinted by the tax on the return. Yours to See box CA.Les costs of exempt income (child care expenses on a set of actions PEA) or products subject to withholding tax is not deductible.

In practice, you do not have to calculate the deductible portion of child care expenses you have incurred, the IRS will. In other words, you can wear to box the total turnover of your child care costs.

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Growth: France lags behind Germany

May 16, 2012 - 11:20 pm Comments Off

 

Meeting for the first Holland Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday hours after the presidential inauguration, the new Franco-German duo has been scrutinized from every angle.

There is one in which France did not shine in comparison: growth. While our neighbor across the Rhine announced an increase of 0.5% of GDP in the first three months of the year – far more than anticipated by economists – the Hexagon was pale with sluggish growth (0 %) over the same period. An expected figure, certainly, but all the more disappointing that the 2011 fourth quarter was revised down from 0.2% to 0.1%.

Some will see the sign that Francois Hollande must persist in its intention to renegotiate the pact with Germany in the European budgetary discipline to introduce a component of growth – what is opposite the German ruling. Others will worry about the weak position of the Hexagon before the arduous negotiation Responding to the country confirms that the only real powerhouse of the eurozone.

The growth figure of France for the first quarter confirms the tonality of the beginning of the quinquennium of the new president. Francois Hollande already knows he can not count on any boost in the short term for the conditions to implement its program.

Production of "idle"

None of the drivers of growth and gives no sign of strength: consumer expenditures of households are "sluggish" (0.2% in the first quarter, after +0.1% the previous one), while investment companies folds (-1.4%), INSEE said. And if reconnect with imports rising, it does not compensate for slowing exports enough to prevent the trade weighs on growth. As for the production of goods and services, it turns "idle". In total, the growth overhang at the end of March – that is to say, the theoretical progression of GDP if the activity remained stable until the end of the year – amounted to 0.2%.

In short, Francois Hollande will have to deal with an uncertain environment. Even more uncertain than the events in Greece could get involved … If time is not yet at risk of contagion to the Hexagon, "we must avoid the chaotic moments that disturb everyone, Greece, is 2% of EU GDP, but this may be part of the little things that become large if not managed properly, "said an official of Bercy cash advance in one hour.

Francois Hollande, he believes in his ability to bounce activity. His lieutenant, Michel Sapin, cites as evidence the industrial policy announced – more favorable, he said, growth – and European initiatives to materialize before he sees the end of next year, thanks to an agreement between France and Germany.

In fact, the new team has no choice if she wants to meet his campaign promises and not be obliged to review all its forecasts. Less growth, this means more unemployment, more deficit and more debt. But the intangible commitment is to return to 3% public deficit in 2013. Francois Hollande can not afford any off the road.

2011 debt adjusted slightly up

INSEE has completed the 2011 accounts. The Institute of Statistics was first confirmed on Tuesday that the general government deficit stood at the end of the year to 103.1 billion euros, or 5.2% of GDP. Compared to 2010, he was reduced from 33.9 billion euros, "because both the revenue buoyancy and expenditure restraint." The new president pledged to reduce the public deficit to 4.5% of GDP at end 2012 and to 3% in 2013. To balance its budget equation, Francois Hollande has on growth (see above), but it also provided 29 billion in additional revenue by the end of 2013.

The weight of public debt, meanwhile, has reached an unprecedented level, 86% of GDP, 3.7 points higher than the end of 2010. At a 717.3 billion, it is also a bit more than the number that was announced in late March (85.8%). Finally, the tax burden, estimated at 43.9% (against 43.8% previously), was up 1.4 points compared to 2010.

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Retirement at age 60: the unions are already demanding more

May 15, 2012 - 10:04 am Comments Off

 

Critics of the measure as its proponents can not but agree with Bernard Thibault: it will be "an event in Europe." Francois Hollande promised that one of his first acts would be to extend, by order, the possibility for some employees to retire at age 60. "This is the first time in many years that a government will come back to this vicious cycle of decline (…) of the retirement age," welcomed the head of the CGT, Monday on RTL. But he also explained why the measure seemed insufficient. The new president has been clear during the campaign: to qualify for this exception to the legal age (increased gradually to 62 by the reform Woerth), it will have paid 41 years. Contributed, and not validated this period. Nuance size. The pension system "offer" because of the quarters to insured under the National Solidarity, in certain situations – maternity leave, parental leave, military service, unemployment, illness or disability long – they do not work, so do not contribute not. Eight quarters are also given to parents for each birth (in fact, almost always mothers).

In practice, it will be necessary before having worked 19 years without interruption, to stop work at 60. An extension of the device 'long career "already open to individuals who began their careers at age 17 or earlier, which would affect about one in four insured approaching the retirement age (150,000 persons per year).

"We are pleased that this improvement is around long careers, both criticized at the time by the CGT and FO," says Jean-Louis Malys, the "Mr. Retreats "of the CFDT. The union had obtained this system in 2003 by François Fillon and Jean-Pierre Raffarin, in return for a longer contribution period. "Francois Hollande, the PS then premiersecrétaire very reluctant, has resumed since the principle of lengthening the contribution period as life expectancy," says Jean-Louis Malys. However, he announced his willingness to discuss "special cases", not to penalize the unemployed or housewives. The device 'long career "has two current relaxations: are deemed assessed periods of sickness, maternity, accidents at work (a maximum of 4 quarters) and national service.

Extensive consultation

The other unions are more virulent. "It is essential to discuss the modalities of implementation," Bernard Thibault requires. Otherwise, "this could be one of the first clashes with the government," threatened Jean-Claude Mailly (FO) last week. The obstacle is financial: the measure, in its limited version, should have cost up to 5 billion per year (funded by increased contributions) to the single basic plan. Perhaps these unions show they less indecisive when it comes to transpose to supplementary Agirc-Arrco, they co-manage with the employers. The cost is estimated at about 50% of that weighing on the basic plan.

Anyway, this step will be temporary, before consulting widely on the whole pension system. Age, duration of assessment, funding, harmonization of rules between plans, hardship …: everything can be discussed, promised the new head of state. But again, the financial strain will weigh. The Board of Retirement Guidance indicated that he would end 2012 new projections. And its president, Raphaël Hadas-Lebel, has already warned the crisis will result in a degradation of the accounts.

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Fort Issy becomes a new neighborhood

May 7, 2012 - 6:48 am Comments Off

 

Those who want to buy an apartment in Fort Issy-les-Moulineaux, just outside Paris, have an incentive to hurry. Of the 1600 units under construction, only a few dozen have not yet been sold. The first occupants will move in March 2013 in this brand new neighborhood. The end of a very long history. "The first contacts with the Ministry of Defence, owner of the fort, took place in 1997, says Christophe Provot, deputy mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, delegate to urban planning. And the sale did not occur until 2010! "

Several causes for these delays in extension. First the different administrations (Ministry of Budget, Ministry of Defence, France Fields …) could not agree on the price of 12 ha. Then, the state and the municipality have long passed the buck who would pay for the removal of 3,000 shells dispatched on that land.

Finally, the state sold the land to the town 60 million, taking charge of the 7.6 million related to site cleanup. The city has invested $ 60 million in additional public facilities (creche, library) and sold the land to developers (Kaufman & Broad, Bouygues …) that offered the highest price.

Result, these apartments are quite expensive: 6500 euros per m² on average. "To have more affordable prices, would have required the State to make efforts and not sell his land at market rate, estimated Loiseleur Raymond, chairman of the SEM (Society of Issy mixed economy. He made another choice. "

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Life insurance: rififi around social contribution

March 29, 2012 - 10:08 pm Comments Off

 

In recent weeks, investors do not understand anything. Some have seen all of their interests in 2011 life insurance policy amputees 13.5% Social Security contributions (CSG, CRDS …). Others paid much less. CNP Assurances, for example, said she has not applied the 13.5% interest acquired all of 2011 … for the simple reason that it was applicable as of 1 October in 2011. Before that date, and the tightening of government tax, the rate was only 12.3%!

ING Direct, he admits he was wrong. Customers have received an email, stating that the amount of payroll taxes that had been indicated (13.5% for all interests in 2011) was erroneous. The situation will be rectified in order to apply a rate of 12.3% through September.

This means that the position of tax administration, questioned on the issue, has been eagerly awaited. She gave his answer Wednesday. Disappointment! It returns insurers and investors to their contracts! Because, of course, the rate of 13.5% applies only to interest earned since 1 October 2011. But to know when these interest-precisely-are "acquired", "should refer to the relevant clauses of the contract," says Bercy. Back to square one, therefore.

For Aviva, the manager of the famous Afer contract, signed by some 720,000 savers, the interest shall be granted unless the performance of the contract for the year is calculated, and so when the interest is credited to an account. Or early 2012. That's why he applied the 13.5% interest in all the euro funds earned by the insured during the past year. This clause is most detrimental to investors.

For other insurers, we can at least take into account the minimum guaranteed rate. Many contracts provide a minimum return in effect during the year (it is applied especially to investors who end their contracts before December 31, and thus before the yield used for the past year is known). It is less generally used to return ultimately, but it has the merit to exist. If the contract considers that the interests are acquired at least the minimum rate during the year, it is enough to apply 12.3% Social Security until late September. And apply the 13.5% that of the rest.

Labor reform: Monti wants to push through

March 23, 2012 - 9:48 am Comments Off

 

Lack of agreement with the most powerful Italian unions, the CGIL, Mario Monti will try to push through his reform of the Labour Code, which will facilitate dismissals in Italy.

After presenting the text to moderate unions and employers on Thursday night, the Italian prime minister intends to adopt this proposed reform of the Labour Code to the Council of Ministers, this Friday to vote to do so as quickly by Parliament .

"We will make the text so that it prevents any abuse in dismissals," Mario Monti promised Thursday night. Time is running for President of the Council who plays his all on this eagerly awaited by reforming the markets and the European Central Bank.

The confederation CGIL, which refused to sign the text and left the negotiating table, called a general strike. The Democratic Party stands for the first time Mario Monti and promises to fight. The ruling coalition, without which Mario Monti would be powerless, threatens to explode.

On the form, Monti reform aims to modernize an Italian Labour Code dating from 1970, accused of holding back growth. On the merits, it addresses two major problems in Italy: on one side, layoffs nearly impossible in large companies, the other an increasing precariousness of work, without nets worthy of the name.

To break this duality of the labor market – which is found also in Spain – Mario Monti wants to facilitate layoffs by offering social protection to many workers who are deprived, while facilitating youth employment.

Conventional termination

Socially, unemployment benefits would become universal and will last 12 months – 18 months for seniors – and will reach 1,119 euros per month, more than today cash advance loans. Paternity leave would be introduced in some industries. And a fund to support older unemployed will be created. For Stefano Libman, professor of labor law at Bocconi University of Milan, this reform has the merit of "the basis for social protection for the millions of workers now have access to coverage generalized social."

To help youth employment, the reform provides for the rationalization of the types of contracts. In quarantine, they will be reduced to eight. Learning becomes the model contract and will last three years. "In the short term, with the crisis, it will inevitably lead to layoffs. But ultimately, this will create a stable job, "says Stefano Libman.

Blocks where the reform is on the right of dismissal, framed by Article 18 of the Labour Code, which prohibits dismissal "without just cause." In fact, Article 18 does not block a score of layoffs a year, but in the minds he became the symbol of the rigidity of the Italian labor market. The government insists the review. It plans to introduce a form of "conventional rupture" in the French which allows to separate from an employee by paying compensation of up to 24 months' salary.

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Matignon wants to help the digital book

March 20, 2012 - 3:28 pm Comments Off

 

The Center for Strategic Analysis (CAS) continues its investigation into "the writing to the digital time." After concentrating on last November in the print media, the agency decision support attached to the Prime Minister released Monday in conjunction with the Centre National du Livre (CNL) its first proposals to help "the players book chain to take the turn of the digital ". Chriqui for Vincent, CEO of CAS, digital is "both a promise of new developments in publishing and a threat, as a share of value could escape the small booksellers and publishers if one does not fix clear trade rules. "

"A strong drawback '

Its three notes of analysis devoted to authors and publishers, bookstores and public libraries, the CAS takes priority recommendations to develop the digital book in France. Also attractive prices – "Consumers clearly want a high-price discount paper" – Vincent Chriqui calls for a consolidation of the French distribution of digital book around a single platform. "There are three distribution platforms in France. Booksellers and readers are confused, and this can only help Amazon (the creator of the Kindle reading light, Ed) which has the richest supply, "he notes. Besides the platform that Decitre will also launch in early April payday lenders. To develop a "real market" – the digital book represents just 1% of book sales when it weighs 15% U.S. and 10% in Britain, the CAS also recommends better "interoperability" ie "the ability to download digital files of books on any model of reading lamp or shelf. But this is not the case today: the tablet Kindle does not give access to files in ePub format, for example, "he says. "We think this is an obstacle to the development of the digital book at the same time that interference with the principle of free competition," said Vincent Chriqui.

The institution does not neglect the booksellers, weakened. One objective of CAS is to support the "policy of multi-channel strategy-store sales and Web-traditional bookshops, to prevent leakage of customers to the Internet giants." The low profitability (between 0.6 and 2%) of the booksellers are not given because the means to invest. All of these proposals, which must also preserve "editorial diversity of the French edition" will be sent to the Government.

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Fender, rock icon, wants to go public

March 13, 2012 - 8:36 am Comments Off

 

The hands of talented British singer and songwriter Eric Clapton, nicknamed "God" (God), she plays alone, the ultimate sound of blues and rock'n'roll. Renowned for its crystal clear sound, the American brand of Fender guitars now also shine on the market scene on Wall Street.

Founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, the legendary American manufacturer of electric guitars, acoustic amplifiers and a record filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enter "as soon as possible" on the Nasdaq. The date of the introduction, the number of shares offered and their prices have not yet been disclosed.

The company, which will appear on the Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNDR", hopes to raise up to $ 200 million. The inventor of the Stratocaster, the icon of the electric guitar and one of the most popular models in the world, with "use about $ 100 million of revenue raised through this IPO" to repay a portion of its debts, whose amount is close $ 250 million. "In 2011 we were number one in terms of market share in the U.S. in the field of electric guitars, acoustic, and bass amplifiers and electric guitars and basses," the company said.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, owned by the Weston Presidio investment fund, has made 700.6 million dollars in sales in 2011 to a net profit of 19 million. Some 45% of its sales generated outside the U.S., mainly on the European market.

Also Eric Clapton, Fender has among its faithful ambassadors Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen or Jimi Hendrix in 1967 who sacrificed his Stratocaster on stage in setting them on fire before smashing against the ground.

The inventor of the Stratocaster and Telecaster, Leo Fender, a creative force unmatched, gave his company to CBS in 1965. Fender grew considerably in the years that followed, before passing through an air hole associated with a lower quality instruments. In the 1980s, CBS will sell all its non-media related. A group of employees and investors led by William Schultz and his family and buy Fender to CBS in 1985.

Started from scratch

The new company had to start from scratch, including the sale or factory or machine. The emblem of the American guitar succeeds, however, his recovery, extending its grip on trademarks Guild, Gretsch, Jackson and Charvel excluding professional sound equipment. In 2008, Fender acquired Kaman Music Corporation (KMC), the largest U.S. independent distributor of musical instruments.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a production facility in Corona, California, Fender has continued to cross swords with Gibson, another giant of the electric guitar that Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, is one of the greatest followers. His fetish model, the Les Paul, was designed in the early 1950s. At its heavier and fatter than her rival Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul ignites always also rock the world stage.

French agriculture to a high-tech

March 5, 2012 - 3:32 am Comments Off

 

Monitoring greenhouse tomatoes by computer processing of GPS fields, sales of wheat on the futures market … French farmers have nothing to do with their ancestors. Now they are showing their attachment to the land of a sudden high-tech.Plus question, for example, to sow the fly in vegetable and grain farms. The embedded software on tractors is more effective. Sebastien Objois, wheat producer in Evry, came to be convinced to stand agricultural equipment of the Exhibition of Agriculture. He witnessed a demonstration of interest Farmstar, which uses data from satellites SPOT 4 and SPOT 5. With this system, a digital pad and connected to the preprogrammed drill or spray can, depending on the characteristics of the field, sow more or less dense or spread more or less treatment.

"With board computerized equipment in the tractor plugged Spot 4 and Spot 5, you can sow your field with an accuracy of 2 centimeters," says Michel Fuga, who came to promote the Farmstar Porte de Versailles. Advantage for growers: Pesticide use is reduced by 5-15%. This saving can be amortized over three years the cost of equipment (about 15,000 euros).

More free time

Technological advances also benefit dairy farmers. With milking robots, the constraints of the morning and evening disappear. The cows go by themselves to trafficking. "The monitoring of the herd is behind the screen using a special software," says Eric Swartvagher, administrator ANEFA, National Association for the employment and training in agriculture.

Computers are also present in vegetable greenhouses. "Eating tomatoes above ground is now available from a computer, which controls the amount of water and air," says Angelique Delahaye, president of France and producer of vegetables in Touraine.

It is not enough to produce, we also sell the goods. The use of futures market or delayed deliveries, and a deadline for a given price, is becoming more common. "I practiced for several months to sell my pigs and to buy my food. But it took me to form, "says Philippe Upstream, pig farmer in Brittany.

"These new techniques not only meet the objective of increasing yields, and therefore income, but also a willingness of farmers to benefit from free time and family life close to those of society," said Christophe Malvezin, Agricultural Counselor, Embassy of France in Washington and former agricultural adviser of Nicolas Sarkozy.

Despite these advances, the French agriculture still has a wide margin for improvement. "While the United States, 80% of crops are produced by biotechnology, in France it is delayed, concludes Guy Vasseur, president of the Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Agriculture (APCA). France can not be a spectator in this area of ​​what is happening in the world. "

680,000 visitors to the agricultural show this year

Vintage 2012 International Exhibition of Agriculture (SIA) is very good. "We record 680,000 visitors, slightly more than last year," says Jean-Luc Poulain, president of SIA. This figure could be revised upwards as a computer bug has disrupted the counting inputs. "Merchants have never worked so hard that Wednesday, we recorded one of the lowest attendance days, with 55,000 entries," says Jean-Luc Poulain. The Friday night has been successful in statistics, with nearly 107,000 visitors for the biggest day of the show. Again this year, the SIA will remain the largest agricultural fair in the world with this feature: together in one place all the farm animals.

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The ECB held his second operation on tap

February 29, 2012 - 2:32 am Comments Off

 

In Frankfurt as in Hollywood, blockbusters at the box office still have a following. With its new Governor Mario Draghi at the wand, the European Central Bank (ECB) had a box in rooms (market) on December 21, proposing to banks in the euro area loans to three years paid at the rate of favorable 1%: some 523 banks had then drew 489 billion euros to the general treasurer. The central bank on Wednesday repeated with a second offer of funding under the same conditions.

As in December, the operation on tap the ECB had passed almost unnoticed, as this new album monopolizes attention. Meanwhile, in effect, operators have discovered the virtues of this infusion of cash, which "played a crucial stabilizing effect on financial markets in the euro area," said the rating agency Fitch.

How? By reversing the downward spiral that led states and banks in the southern countries of Europe towards the precipice. In addition to the invoice Greek tensions on sovereign debt Italy and Spain have indeed weakened the banks of these countries throughout 2011, boomerang-feeding fears about these states, leaving the specter of a rescue banking. The risk that France has to support its banking system has also weighed in the loss of AAA inflicted mid-January by the rating agency Standard & Poor's.

By flooding the banking system liquidity in the medium term, the ECB has caused a twofold benefit: one, the risk of going off the road an Italian or Spanish bank has moved away and two, these institutions are now able to support States by buying their sovereign debt. Hence the almost universal relief: relaxation rates on sovereign debt Italian or Spanish, rising stock markets, banks' resumption of emission payday advance… No wonder investors want more. How many banks ask they this time? Estimates vary between 200 billion and 1000 billion. With the idea that the higher the amount, the higher the markets will appreciate, because these are all new cash should get involved.

Virility contest

This vision reflects the optimism that blows from the beginning of the year. Not long ago, a massive use of banks to the ECB could have been perceived as a sign of weakness. Joseph Ackermann, head of Deutsche Bank, had also launched the controversy earlier this month stating that he had not presented to the Frankfurt office, wanting to avoid wearing the marks of a "subsidy". Mario Draghi had then replied that it was not "a contest of manhood." For his part, Stuart Gulliver, head of the rich British HSBC, said Monday that he had participated in "solidarity with the euro area". This positive attitude could help widen the circle. According to Oddo Asset Management, the euro zone banks must repay 813 billion worth of loans between 2012 and 2013, of which 270 billion solely for the German banks that had shunned the first wave.

Ultimately, the success of the program seems indisputable Draghi markets. This was an essential prerequisite to avoid chaos. The question is how these banks will inject money into the economy.

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