French office words from France, explained
The words you see in official letters in France, in plain English.
- actualisation
- The monthly update you send to France Travail to keep getting paid.
- aide juridictionnelle
- Legal aid. The state pays all or part of your lawyer if your income is low.
- allocataire
- Person who gets benefits from the CAF. Your numéro allocataire is your CAF number.
- amende
- Fine.
- attestation
- Certificate or written statement, for example proof of health cover.
- avis d’imposition
- Tax notice. It shows how much tax you owe or get back.
- avis de contravention
- Notice of a traffic or parking offence, with the fine to pay.
- charges locatives
- Service charges paid with the rent, like water, heating or cleaning of shared areas.
- commandement de payer
- Formal order to pay, delivered by a bailiff. It often comes just before a seizure or a court case.
- commissaire de justice
- Bailiff. A legal officer who delivers court papers and can seize money or goods. Until 2022 called huissier.
- congé
- In housing letters: notice to end the lease. In work letters: time off.
- contestation
- Challenge. Saying in writing that a decision or a fine is wrong.
- convocation
- Official invitation to an appointment. You are expected to come.
- cotisations
- Contributions you pay, for example for social security or an insurance.
- CSG
- Social contributions (CSG and CRDS) taken from most kinds of income.
- date limite de paiement
- The last day to pay.
- délai
- Time limit or deadline.
- dépôt de garantie
- Rental deposit.
- échéancier
- Payment plan or payment schedule. It shows how much to pay and when.
- état des lieux
- Written check of the flat’s condition when you move in and when you move out.
- forfait post-stationnement
- Parking charge from a town when you didn’t pay for parking. It is not a fine.
- France Services
- Free local help desks. Staff help you with the CAF, the tax office, France Travail and other offices.
- indu
- Money paid to you by mistake that you have to pay back.
- justificatif de domicile
- Proof of address, for example a recent energy bill or a rent receipt.
- lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception
- Registered letter with proof of delivery. Use it for important replies.
- majoration
- Extra charge added because you paid or acted late.
- mise en demeure
- Formal demand. A last warning before legal action.
- notification
- Official delivery of a decision. Deadlines often start from this day.
- numéro fiscal
- Your personal 13-digit tax number. It never changes.
- OQTF
- Order to leave France (obligation de quitter le territoire français).
- pièces justificatives
- Supporting documents, for example payslips, contracts or bills.
- préavis
- Notice period. The time between giving notice and the end of the contract.
- prélèvement
- Direct debit. Money taken from your account automatically.
- prélèvement à la source
- Income tax taken directly from your salary or pension every month.
- quittance de loyer
- Rent receipt.
- RAPO
- Required first appeal (recours administratif préalable obligatoire). You must send it to the office before you can go to court.
- récépissé
- Paper proving that you applied. It usually lets you stay legally while they decide.
- réclamation
- Complaint or formal request to change something, for example your tax.
- recours amiable
- A first appeal to the CAF, Assurance Maladie or URSSAF. It goes to their appeals board (Commission de recours amiable, CRA).
- recours gracieux
- A request to the same office to change its decision.
- relance
- Reminder. You have not paid or answered yet.
- remise de dette
- Cancelling all or part of a debt because you can’t pay it.
- résiliation
- Ending a contract, for example a lease, an insurance or a phone contract.
- RIB
- Your bank details on one page (IBAN and BIC). Offices often ask for it to pay you.
- saisie
- Seizure of money or goods to pay a debt.
- taxe foncière
- Yearly local tax paid by people who own a property.
- titre de séjour
- Residence permit.
- trop-perçu
- Overpayment. Money you got but were not entitled to.
- virement
- Bank transfer.
- voies et délais de recours
- The part of the letter that explains how and by when you can challenge the decision.