A technical error has led to many property owners receiving tax notices on vacant homes even though their properties are occupied. The tax administration promises automatic corrections and relief for the users concerned.
Incorrect tax notices, a worrying situation
Heat stroke for many French taxpayers. Several owners have wrongly received Vacant Housing Tax (TLV) or Vacant Housing Tax (THLV) notices, although their properties are occupied. This error, revealed by Le Parisien, raises concerns about the management of tax data.
According to the CGT Public Finances, nearly two thirds of calls received to the personal tax service this month concern this problem. The errors seem to mainly target properties acquired recently, between 2022 and 2023, or housing that has changed occupation this year. Owners occupying their main residence are also among the victims of this blunder.
Faced with this situation, the General Directorate of Public Finances (DGFiP) admits a “technical error” in the processing of opinions and ensures that the cases identified will be corrected without users needing to act.
The TLV and THLV respectively concern housing that has been vacant for at least one year or two years, depending on the geographical area. In 2024, the list of municipalities affected by these taxes was expanded, with 3,697 municipalities in tense areas and 6,417 outside tense areas. This enlargement would partly explain the increase in the number of opinions issued, sometimes wrongly.
A poorly controlled enlargement?
To reassure taxpayers, the DGFiP announces that the users concerned will initially receive an information email followed, by the end of the year, by a letter canceling the initial notice. Reductions have already been applied in certain regions: more than 350 cases in Tarn and 700 in Vienne, according to official figures.
This situation also highlights the complexity for owners of respecting their reporting obligations, in particular via the “Manage my real estate” service on the tax website. The tax administration reminds that changes in occupation must be declared each year, including the identity of the tenants or the nature of use of the accommodation.
The incident raises questions about the tax department's ability to handle the increase in data related to real estate taxes. The Defender of Rights had already warned of the risks linked to the use of algorithms in public services. If the DGFiP promises rapid corrective measures, this episode risks leaving traces in the relationship of trust between the administration and users.
