Should our camping a la ferme be a registered business in France?
We have run a small camping a la ferme for 8 years. We have always declared the income on our tax declarations and have always paid a separate amount of approximately 300 euros per year social charges on the business. Last year we received a letter from the local Impots telling us that we had to register the business and pay cotisations. We have registered in my wife’s name. I am already an auto-entrepreneur trading as Assistance aux personnes anglaises. I do planning applications.
We argued this long and hard at the time, but even our accountant was no help. She just kept saying that because we offer a service, we have to pay cotisations at 24.6%. We cannot understand why gites or chambre d’hotes are treated differently, and only pay the 14% rate, when they often turnover more than a camping site. Our best year to date was 4900 euros, the last two years were lower at approximately 3000 euros. Now we have to find another 24.6%, which means we may now actually be operating at a loss. With deep regret we are considering closing the site.
Do you think the assessment of our situation is incorrect?