Double taxation convention: France

A new comprehensive Double Taxation Convention between the United Kingdom and France was signed in London on 19 June 2008 by the Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mme Christine Lagarde, the French Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment.

The text of the new Convention can be accessed on the Internet at hmrc.gov.uk/international/france.pdf. The text will be laid as a Schedule to a Draft Order in Council for consideration by the House of Commons later this year and will then also be available from the Stationery Office.

Welcoming the signature, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon Alistair Darling MP said: "This new Convention represents continued progress in our efforts to modernise our network of Double Taxation Conventions and marks a valuable step forward with one of the UK's most important trading and investment partners."

The Convention will enter into force once both countries have completed their Parliamentary procedures and it will replace the existing Convention which dates from 1968. The new Convention with France that was signed on 28 January 2004 will not now be presented to Parliament and will therefore not enter into force.