Consultation on auto-entrepreneur scheme to take place

TALKS are to take place between the minister for small business and organisations representing auto-entrepreneurs on the future of the scheme.

It was feared that the auto-entrepreneur system would be drastically changed forcing payment levels and paperwork to increase, gutting the business set up of some of its key advantages.

But in a statement the minister responsible for artisans, commerce and tourism, Sylvia Pinel, said talks would begin over what changes would take place to ensure auto-entrepreneurs make a reasonable contribution to the 2013 budget.

Sylvia Pinel said that no changes to how the auto-entrepreneur scheme works would be made, ensuring that tax rates are dependent upon turnover and that if a small business makes no money it will not face any charges.

One of the organisations present at initial talks with the minister, the Union des Auto-Entrepreneurs, said it would remain vigilant and look to ensure that the scheme's advantages were not diluted.

Business newspaper, Capital.fr, says that if the initial proposals are passed by the French parliament then auto-entrepreneurs can expect to see their tax rates increase by two to three percentage points.

Sylvia Pinel said that the consultation findings would be published in December 2012.

Download Consultation Launch on Auto-Entrepreneur Scheme (.pdf)