Cannes Office — Bensaid Avocats

Tax lawyer in Cannes

Bensaid Avocats has an office in Cannes, 3 rue du Maréchal Foch, in the heart of the city centre. Our Côte d'Azur office advises French and international tax residents, real-estate investors on the Côte d'Azur, art collectors and wealthy families across the full range of tax matters: real-estate taxation, non-resident taxation, voluntary disclosure of foreign assets, international estate planning, art and yacht taxation. The local team works in close coordination with the Paris, Geneva, Marseille and Lisbon offices.

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Paris · Geneva · Marseille · Cannes · Lisbon
— In brief
Address
3 Rue du Maréchal Foch, 06400 Cannes
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Telephone
+33 1 42 27 78 52 (Paris head office)
Area served
Cannes · Nice · Antibes · Saint-Tropez · Monaco · Côte d'Azur
— 01

The specific tax landscape of the Côte d'Azur

The Côte d'Azur concentrates specific tax issues: a high density of non-resident taxpayers (Monaco residents, British, Scandinavian, Italian and American nationals holding real-estate assets in France), complex real-estate transactions (SCI, property-dealer operations, high-end second homes), the Italian flat tax and the Portuguese non-habitual resident status weighed against French taxation, yacht taxation (VAT, port dues, leasing) and the taxation of the art market (Cannes galleries, auction sales).

Our Cannes office addresses these issues with direct coordination with the offices in Paris (head office), Geneva (the French-Swiss corridor), Marseille (territorial jurisdiction) and Lisbon (Portuguese non-habitual residence, cross-border arbitrages).

The local ecosystem, including notaries, private banks, family offices and wealth concierge services, knows the firm well. We regularly act as second opinion on matters structured by other advisers, and in litigation against the tax authorities (DRCC PACA, DNVSF).

— 02

Local areas of practice on the Côte d'Azur

01

Côte d'Azur real-estate taxation

Acquisition, holding and sale of prestige properties in Cannes, Nice, Antibes and Saint-Tropez.

  • Optimisation of notary fees (commitment to resell or to construct)
  • Real-estate capital gains of non-residents (French Tax Code art. 244 bis A)
  • IFI on French real estate held by non-residents
  • Structuring through SCI, Luxembourg holding companies, fiducie
  • Taxation of furnished rentals and high-end para-hotel activities
02

Non-residents and expatriates

Monaco, British, Scandinavian and American residents holding assets in France.

  • Determination of tax residence (French Tax Code art. 4 B, bilateral treaties)
  • Taxation of non-residents' French-source income (French Tax Code art. 164 A to 165)
  • Exit tax (French Tax Code art. 167 bis) upon transfer of tax residence
  • France-Monaco tax treaty of 18 May 1963
  • France-United Kingdom treaty post-Brexit
03

Art and yacht taxation

Cannes galleries, auction sales, private collections, yachts under leasing arrangements.

  • VAT on sales of works of art (unified 5.5% rate since 1 January 2025)
  • Geneva Convention on stolen or illegally exported works of art
  • VAT regime for yachts (leasing, charter, sale)
  • Capital gains on sales of works of art (French Tax Code art. 150 VI to 150 VM)
  • Payment in kind through works of art (French Tax Code art. 1716 bis)
04

Voluntary disclosure and litigation

Undeclared foreign accounts, tax audits, tax reassessments.

  • Voluntary disclosure of foreign accounts (French Tax Code art. 1649 A)
  • Defence in tax audits concerning residence and assets
  • Litigation before the DRCC PACA and the DNVSF
  • Hierarchical and judicial appeals
  • Coordination with foreign advisers (Switzerland, Luxembourg, UK, Italy)
— 03

A coordinated team across Paris · Geneva · Marseille · Cannes · Lisbon

The Cannes office does not operate in isolation: it is fully integrated into the Bensaid Avocats network. For each matter, the local team draws on the specific expertise of the other offices: Paris for complex fiducie transactions and international taxation; Geneva for the French-Swiss corridor and Swiss wealth structures; Marseille for PACA litigation and regional real-estate VAT; Lisbon for the Portuguese non-habitual resident status and international arbitrages.

This structure allows the firm to provide a comprehensive response to clients with interests in several jurisdictions, while benefiting from the geographic proximity and the knowledge of the local network of our Cannes office.

— Frequently asked questions

Is the Cannes office a permanent office?

Yes. The office at 3 rue du Maréchal Foch in Cannes is a permanent office of Bensaid Avocats, open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 7 pm by appointment. It is an integral part of our structure (Paris, Geneva, Marseille, Cannes, Lisbon).

Which areas does the Cannes office cover?

Our Cannes office covers the entire Côte d'Azur: Cannes, Nice, Antibes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco, Menton, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Cap-d'Antibes, Mougins, Vallauris. For significant matters, our Paris and Geneva lawyers also travel to the Côte d'Azur.

Does the firm act for Monaco residents?

Yes, this is one of our specialities. The France-Monaco tax treaty of 18 May 1963 imposes specific rules on French nationals residing in Monaco (notably liability to French income tax for French nationals in Monaco). We regularly advise Monaco residents on their real-estate transactions in France and their tax residence questions.

Does the Cannes office handle yacht taxation?

Yes. Yacht taxation (VAT on leasing, port dues, charter with or without skipper, requalification as a commercial activity, capital gains on resale) is one of our regular practices, particularly relevant on the Côte d'Azur. We work in coordination with yacht brokers and local shipyards.

How do I book an appointment at the Cannes office?

To book an appointment, contact the firm's switchboard on +33 1 42 27 78 52 or by email at [email protected]. State your needs and your preferred office (Cannes, Paris, Geneva, Marseille, Lisbon) and we will direct you to the partner best suited to your matter.

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A tax matter to handle on the Côte d'Azur?

A confidential first discussion: a rapid review of your situation, referral to the right partner, and an appointment at the Cannes office or by videoconference.

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© BENSAID Avocats — The information on this site does not constitute legal advice and is no substitute for personalised tax analysis.