We can’t show you a face. So our trust signal is the opposite of a sales pitch: every figure is verified, dated, and sourced, and we tell you exactly how the math works so you can check it yourself.
Every French rule is confirmed against the primary source — the law and the official tariff, not a blog summary. If we can’t verify it, we flag it.
Every number carries an “as of” date. French rates move — quarterly, annually, and by reform — so a figure without a date is a figure you can’t trust.
We point you to the authoritative source for each figure, so you (and your notaire) can confirm the current position before you act.
The “frais de notaire” everyone quotes as a flat 7% is neither flat nor mostly the notaire’s fee. Here’s what actually makes up your acquisition cost, in the order it matters:
A €250,000 resale (ancien) apartment in a département at the raised DMTO rate, with €1,400 of débours:
| Line | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DMTO — transfer tax (6.307%) | €15,767 | 77.7% |
| Notaire — émoluments (incl. 20% VAT) | €2,874 | 14.2% |
| CSI — security (0.10%) | €250 | 1.2% |
| Débours — disbursements | €1,400 | 6.9% |
| Total buying costs | €20,290 | 8.12% |
The authoritative references behind the figures. These are the primary sources — confirm the current position here (or via your notaire) before you act:
For US-specific figures (FATCA, the SCI/PFIC treatment, FBAR/Form 8938/8865, §988), we reference IRS guidance and the US-France tax treaties — and we flag every punitive specific to verify with a cross-border CPA.
Currency is the whole point. We refresh on a cadence that matches how each number actually moves:
This is also why the course bundles a kept-current membership: a static guide doesn’t just go stale, it goes confidently wrong. Figures on this site are stated as of June 2026.