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Important information

Target audience

AudienceFrench citizens, Statutory refugees, Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, Stateless people

Where is it?

Buy a tax stamp

Updated on il y a 6 mois

What is it?

A revenue stamp is used to pay duties or taxes in the context of administrative procedures. It serves as proof of payment and is necessary for obtaining certain official documents (identity papers, long-stay visa, residence or resident permit, refugee travel document, etc.).

In mainland France, tax stamps are only sold in "dematerialized" (= electronic) form. They can be purchased online or at a tobacco shop.

In the overseas departments, they are still available in paper format.

From the date of purchase, the purchased electronic tax stamp is valid for 12 months. Otherwise, it can be reimbursed up to 18 months after the date of purchase.

How to do it?

Go to the website of the Ministry of the Interior dedicated to foreigners in France, on the page to buy an electronic tax stamp (by clicking here).

To buy your tax stamp, you will then need to:

  • Choose the amount in euros you need (check according to the procedures you are doing where tax stamps are needed)
  • Check the summary specifying the amount of tax stamps purchased as part of a request for a “title for foreigners”.
  • Enter your email address (to which proof of payment will be sent)
  • Confirm your email address by entering it again, then validate the payment.
  • Choose your means of payment (bank card only: Visa, Mastercard or CB) by clicking on the symbol corresponding to your bank card.
  • Enter your credit card information (card number, expiry date and visual cryptogram that corresponds to the 3 digits on the back of your credit card) to finally validate.

The electronic tax stamp can be given on 2 types of media:

  • A PDF document with a code that can be scanned directly from your phone by the service that requested the purchase of the tax stamp.
  • An SMS (or text message / message received on your phone) which contains a 16-digit identifier. It matches the stamp. You will have to give it to the person who will take care of your file.

You can also go to a tobacco shop to buy your tax stamp. Remember to ask the seller if he is equipped to edit tax stamps.

Be careful, do not buy a "fine stamp": this is different from the tax stamp.

Once you arrive at a tobacco shop, you will then have to:

  • Specify the amount of tax stamp you need.
  • Pay using the method of payment that suits you (credit card, cash, etc.).
  • Collect your electronic tax stamp. On this document that the seller will give you, must appear in particular: the tax stamp number, the transaction number, the amount and the date of purchase. Don't lose it! This document is essential for your file (since it is your tax stamp) and may also be requested in the event of a request for reimbursement.

What happens next?

In the event of an error or if you do not use your electronic tax stamp in the end, you can request a refund within 18 months of the date of purchase.

To request an electronic tax stamp refund:

  • Go to the website https://timbres.impots.gouv.fr.
  • Click on “Request reimbursement of an electronic stamp”/”access reimbursement”.
  • Check the “one user” box.
  • If you purchased your stamp online, tick “online”.
  • In the line “stamp number”, note the 16 digits corresponding to the number of the tax stamp that you wish to be reimbursed. You can find this number (or identifier) on the PDF document or the SMS received during the online payment.
  • In the “transaction reference” line, note the transaction reference number that you can find on the proof of payment that was sent to you by email when you purchased the tax stamp online. You will find this figure at the bottom on the “transaction reference” line.
  • Click on “Search”. The site displays the summary of the stamp to be reimbursed. Check the information and click on “confirm”.
  • Download the supporting document by clicking on “download the supporting document (PDF)”. This will serve as proof of your claim for reimbursement.
  • Wait a few days and check your bank account (the one used when buying the stamp). The refund should appear.
The refund is made within a few days to the account from which the money was taken to pay the tax stamp purchased.

In the event of an error or if you do not use your electronic tax stamp in the end, you can request a refund within 18 months of the date of purchase.

To make your request for reimbursement, you will need a RIB (bank identity statement - document on which the details of your bank account appear) in your name as well as an identity document.

Note that refunds cannot be made on savings accounts (such as a livret A, a livret Jeunes, etc.).

To request an electronic tax stamp refund:

  • Go to the website https://timbres.impots.gouv.fr.
  • Click on “Request reimbursement of an electronic stamp”/”access reimbursement”.
  • Check the “one user” box.
  • If you bought your stamp in a tobacco shop, tick “from a professional issuing electronic stamps”.
  • A browser window will open to inform you that a RIB and an identity document are required. Click “OK”.

Step 1: characteristics of the stamps

  • In the “stamp 1” line, note the 16 digits corresponding to the number of the fiscal stamp that you wish to be reimbursed. You can find this number (or identifier) on the summary ticket given by the person who sold you the stamp.
  • In the “Stamp amount” line, enter the amount of the tax stamp you want to be reimbursed. You can find this amount on the summary ticket given by the person who sold you the stamp.
  • In the “Associated transaction” line, note the transaction number which you can find on the proof of payment given to you by the person who sold you the stamp (“Transaction number” line).
  • If you have another tax stamp to be reimbursed, click on “add a stamp” and enter the information corresponding to this other stamp.

Step 2: supporting documents

  • The site then asks you to upload the supporting documents.
  • On the line “bank account details in the name of the applicant”, click on “choose a file” and select the file corresponding to your bank details on your computer (bank document containing your bank account number).
  • Check “identity document”. Then add the file corresponding to your identity document which is on your computer.

Step 3: contact details

  • Fill in the various information requested, namely your: surname / first name / address / Postal code / City / Country / Telephone number / email (email address) / Email confirmation (enter your email address again).
  • Fill in your bank details by entering your IBAN in full (this information is on your RIB) and note the name of the person to whom the bank account belongs.

Step 4: Summary and confirmation

  • The site displays the summary with your contact details, information about the stamp to be reimbursed and the documents you have provided. Check the information.
  • If everything is correct, check the box “I declare that all the above information is correct”.
  • You may be asked a control question for security reasons. You will therefore have to answer the question asked.
  • Finally, click on “send your request”. You will then receive an email to the email address you provided summarizing your request.
The refund is made to the bank account corresponding to the RIB entered during the refund request within a few days.
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