Companies established outside the European Union may, in some cases, appoint a simple fiscal agent instead of a jointly liable tax representative, thanks to mutual assistance agreements signed between their country and France.
Companies established in an EU Member State are never subject to the tax representative requirement. A fiscal agent is sufficient, without joint liability.
Companies established in any of the following countries may use a fiscal agent instead of a tax representative:
* Countries added by the decree of 16 February 2021.
Companies carrying out exclusively VAT-suspended transactions under customs procedure (Article 277 A of the CGI) are also exempt from appointing a tax representative, regardless of their country of establishment.
If your country of establishment is not on this list and is not an EU member, appointing an accredited tax representative, jointly liable for VAT payment, remains mandatory to carry out taxable transactions in France.
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Assess my obligation →Source: decree of 15 May 2013 as amended by the decree of 16 February 2021, setting the list of non-EU countries with which France has a mutual assistance instrument (Art. 289 A, I-1° of the CGI). List checked in July 2026.