How to Get a French Tax Number (Numéro Fiscal) for the First Time in 2026
Moving to France comes with a long list of administrative steps. From setting up healthcare to understanding taxes, every new resident eventually has to navigate the French bureaucracy.
One of the most important numbers you will need is your French tax number, known as your Numéro Fiscal.
Your Numéro Fiscal allows you to access your online tax account, complete your tax declarations, and use certain administrative services in France.
However, unlike some other identifiers, it is not always automatically created when you arrive.
If you are currently preparing your move, this is one of the administrative steps worth adding to your Moving to France Checklist.
In this guide, we explain exactly how to get your first French tax number, what documents you need, and what to do if you have never filed taxes in France before.
What Is a French Tax Number (Numéro Fiscal)?
The Numéro Fiscal is your personal identification number issued by the French tax authorities (Direction générale des Finances publiques – DGFiP).
It is a unique 13-digit number that identifies you within the French tax system.
You will use it to:
create your account on impots.gouv.fr
submit your annual income tax declaration
access your tax notices (Avis d'Impôt)
manage your tax information
complete certain administrative procedures
Your Numéro Fiscal is different from your Numéro de Sécurité Sociale, which is used for healthcare and social protection.
Many newcomers confuse these two numbers. Your Social Security number is linked to services such as CPAM and your Carte Vitale, while your Numéro Fiscal is only related to taxation.
Who Needs a French Tax Number?
You will generally need a Numéro Fiscal if you:
become a French tax resident
work in France
receive income in France
own property in France
need to file a French tax return
want to access your online tax account
Even if you do not owe any income tax, you may still be required to submit a declaration depending on your situation.
For many newcomers, obtaining a tax number is one of the first steps toward becoming fully integrated into French administration—alongside setting up healthcare, registering with Ameli and obtaining your Carte Vitale, and creating your digital identity through FranceConnect.
When Do You Receive Your First Numéro Fiscal?
There are two main ways you may receive your French tax number.
1. After Filing Your First French Tax Return
For most people arriving in France, the Numéro Fiscal is created after their first income tax declaration.
If you have never lived in France before and have never filed taxes here, you may not be able to immediately create an online tax account.
Instead, you may need to complete your first tax declaration through the process provided by the French tax administration.
Once your declaration has been processed, you will receive your tax number.
2. By Contacting Your Local Tax Office
In some situations, you may need a Numéro Fiscal before filing your first tax return.
For example, you may need one to:
create your online tax account
access certain administrative services
complete procedures requiring tax identification
In this case, you can contact your local Service des Impôts des Particuliers (SIP) and request the creation of your tax account.
Your request will be handled by the tax office responsible for your French address.
How to Get Your First French Tax Number: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Identify Your Local Tax Office
Your first point of contact is your local Service des Impôts des Particuliers (SIP).
The correct tax office depends on where you live in France.
You can find your local office through the official French tax website and contact them by email, phone, or appointment.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Before contacting the tax office, prepare documents that prove your identity and situation.
You may be asked for:
passport or national identity card
proof of French address
residence permit (if applicable)
civil status documents
employment or income information
Keeping your French administrative documents organized will make future procedures easier.
Step 3: Receive Your Numéro Fiscal
Once your request is approved, the French tax administration will provide your Numéro Fiscal.
Keep this number somewhere safe.
Unlike many temporary administrative references, your Numéro Fiscal stays with you permanently, even if you move to another city in France or leave the country and return later.
How to Create Your impots.gouv.fr Account
After receiving your Numéro Fiscal, you can create your personal account on impots.gouv.fr.
This account allows you to:
file your tax declaration online
view your tax notices
update your personal information
manage your withholding tax
You will usually need:
your Numéro Fiscal
your online access number
your reference tax income (revenu fiscal de référence)
Once your account is active, you may also be able to use FranceConnect to access French government services without creating separate accounts for every administration.
Can You Use FranceConnect Without a Numéro Fiscal?
Sometimes, yes.
FranceConnect allows you to access many French public services using an existing verified identity, such as an Ameli account or another supported digital identity provider.
However, FranceConnect does not create your tax number.
If you need access to the tax system itself, you will still need to obtain your Numéro Fiscal from the French tax authorities.
Where Can You Find Your Numéro Fiscal?
Once you have received your tax number, you can find it on:
your Avis d'Impôt (tax notice)
your tax declaration documents
your online tax account
It is usually displayed alongside your personal information.
What If You Lose Your French Tax Number?
Do not request a new one.
Your Numéro Fiscal is unique and remains assigned to you permanently.
If you lose it:
Check previous tax documents
Log into your online tax account if you have access
Contact your local tax office
Is the Numéro Fiscal the Same as a Social Security Number?
No. These two numbers are often confused by newcomers to France, but they serve completely different purposes.
Your Numéro Fiscal is your tax identification number. It is used for everything related to French taxes, including your account on impots.gouv.fr, your tax declarations, and your tax notices.
Your Numéro de Sécurité Sociale, on the other hand, is linked to the French healthcare system. You need it to access healthcare services, register with Ameli, and receive your Carte Vitale.
Think of it this way:
Your Numéro Fiscal connects you to the French tax administration.
Your Numéro de Sécurité Sociale connects you to the French healthcare system.
Your FranceConnect account allows you to access many government websites using a verified digital identity.
These numbers are separate, and getting one does not automatically mean you have the others.
For example, many newcomers complete their healthcare registration with CPAM in France before they ever receive their Numéro Fiscal.
Do Married Couples Share a Numéro Fiscal?
No.
Each individual has their own Numéro Fiscal.
Even married couples who submit a joint tax declaration have separate tax identification numbers.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a French Tax Number?
Processing times vary depending on:
your local tax office
the time of year
whether additional documents are needed
During the annual tax declaration period, delays are more common because tax offices receive a higher number of requests.
Final Thoughts: Making French Administration Easier
Getting your first Numéro Fiscal is one of those important steps that makes life in France feel more official. Once you have it, you can access your tax account, complete future declarations, and unlock more of the online services you will use as a resident.
But your tax number is only one piece of the puzzle.
Living in France means managing many different administrative systems at the same time: healthcare with CPAM, family benefits with CAF, residence procedures through ANEF, taxes through impots.gouv.fr, and digital access through FranceConnect.
The challenge is not completing one form — it is knowing which step comes next, which documents you need, and how each administration connects to the others.
That is exactly why we created Navigating France.
Navigating France helps newcomers organize their French administrative journey with practical guides, step-by-step checklists, and tools designed to help you understand what to do next — whether you have just arrived, are preparing your move, or are already building your life in France.
From getting your first Numéro Fiscal to applying for healthcare, managing residency, and discovering the benefits available to you, Navigating France brings everything you need into one place.