Excess charges for home services in French homes
Only half of the actual cost of the service should be taken within certain payment ceilings
Thousands of people who opted for an immediate tax credit for employing a cleaner or other service person at their home have found that too much was debited from their accounts in the first months of this year. This was because Urssaf did not deduct the 50% tax credit that was due.
This system was launched last year for people who directly employ someone at their home. It was extended this year to people who pay home-help service businesses. Users sign up for the Cesu+ service.
They declare the number of hours worked and the amount of the salary/payment as usual, but then Urssaf should take from their accounts only the cost of the service plus social charges, minus a 50% home-employment tax credit.
Urssaf then pays the worker/firm their whole salary or fee. Urssaf says amounts wrongly taken will be refunded. However, anyone who might have been affected is advised to keep an eye on bank statements in case the bug recurs.
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