The 50% tax credit on domestic cleaning
Which services qualify
| Service | Tax credit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Window cleaning | Yes | Cleaning windows in a private home counts as household work and falls within the Services à la Personne scheme. |
| Terrace cleaning | Yes | Terraces and balconies count as part of the home under the Services à la Personne scheme. |
| Domestic housekeeping | Yes | Housekeeping is the core activity of the Services à la Personne scheme. |
| Shutter and door cleaning | Yes | This is routine upkeep of the home, with no specialist equipment, so it qualifies under the scheme. |
| Facade cleaning | No | Cleaning exterior walls is excluded from the Services à la Personne scheme: it counts as building work. No tax credit applies to this service. |
| Solar panel cleaning | No | Solar panel cleaning is not on the list of Services à la Personne activities: it deals with energy-generating equipment, wherever it is mounted. No tax credit applies to this service. |
| Bin cleaning | No | This service is not on the list of Services à la Personne activities. No tax credit applies. |
Annual cap: €6000 of spending per year per tax household, across all Services à la Personne combined.
The declaration number of the registered provider is given to you together with the quote.
Frequently asked questions
- Does window cleaning qualify for the tax credit?
- Yes, window cleaning in a private home qualifies for a 50% income tax credit, provided the work is invoiced by a provider registered under the Services à la Personne scheme. Cleaning is one of the household tasks the scheme covers. The credit applies to the amount actually paid, up to the household annual cap.
- How does URSSAF's immediate advance work?
- The immediate advance, or avance immédiate, lets you pay only 50% of the invoice at the time of the job, rather than paying in full and waiting for your tax return. URSSAF pays the other half straight to the provider. The service is free and optional, but it is only available if the provider is registered on the Tiers de Prestation platform.
- Is facade cleaning eligible for the tax credit?
- No, facade cleaning does not qualify for the French Services à la Personne tax credit. The scheme covers upkeep of the home, including balconies and terraces, but explicitly excludes cleaning exterior walls, which counts as building work. A company that offers you 50% off a rendering job or facade moss removal is either mistaken or misleading you.
- What is the cap on the Services à la Personne tax credit?
- The general cap is €6,000 of spending per year per tax household, which works out at €3,000 of credit. That cap covers all of the household's personal services, not just cleaning. Higher limits apply depending on the make-up of the household.
- Do you have to be a taxpayer to get the 50%?
- No, this is a tax credit rather than a tax reduction, so households that pay no income tax receive the money as a bank transfer. The distinction matters: a reduction only helps those who owe tax, whereas a credit reaches everyone.
- Is solar panel cleaning eligible for the tax credit?
- No, solar panel cleaning does not qualify for the French Services à la Personne tax credit. The scheme covers upkeep of the home, not energy-generating equipment, which is excluded however it is mounted — on a roof, on a carport or on the ground. The amount on the quote is therefore the final amount, with nothing to deduct later.
- Is bin cleaning eligible for the tax credit?
- No, bin cleaning does not qualify for the French Services à la Personne tax credit. This service is not on the list of activities the scheme covers, which is limited to the upkeep of the home itself. The amount on the quote is therefore the final amount, with nothing to deduct later.