The tax office reminds you of a late payment
In short
If a tax is not paid on time, the tax office sends a reminder and adds a 10% surcharge. Without payment, enforcement can follow (seizure from a bank account or salary).
Deadlines to check
- The 10% surcharge applies if the tax is not paid within 45 days after collection started.
- A request for a payment plan gets an answer within 2 months; no answer means it is refused.
What to do
- Pay as soon as possible to limit costs, or ask for a payment plan from your personal account on impots.gouv.fr.
- If you paid on time, send proof of payment through secure messaging.
- If you are in difficulty, you can ask for the surcharge to be waived, explaining your situation.
- If the disagreement continues: the tax conciliator (conciliateur fiscal) of your département, then the mediator of the economic and financial ministries.
Watch out: Do not leave a reminder unanswered: contacting the tax office early often gets you a payment plan.
Sources and official links
- Service-Public: late-payment surcharge (FR)
- Service-Public: tax payment plans (FR)
- Service-Public: conciliator and mediator (FR)
Checked on 11 October 2026 against the official sources above. Rules can change: the deadlines written on your letter take priority.
General information, not legal advice. This guide explains a type of letter; it does not replace advice from a professional on your situation. Free help: France services, point-justice. Read the disclaimer.