Other appendices

Articles in this section · 20

Article Annexe D

French General Code of Local AuthoritiesIn force

Updated 3 Nov 2023

Specification of the information that must appear on the statement of account for the payment of an advance

The statement of account must highlight all of the following elements:


a) Where applicable, the amount of the advance paid. a) Where applicable, the amount of the advance paid


. For each of the following items, it must show the amount of the total services provided, the cumulative breakdown of previous invoices and the breakdown of the advance payment:


b) The amount exclusive of VAT in terms of the price of the services provided. b) The amount (excluding VAT) in basic prices of the work carried out or services provided under the initial contract and the documents amending the contract;


> c) Where applicable, the amount of the advance payment made to the contractor. c) Where applicable, the updating/revision of prices (cf. attached statement of account drawn up in accordance with Annex E);


d) Where applicable, the amount of the work carried out or services provided under the initial contract and the documents amending the contract d) Where applicable, the amount of the premiums (1) and, where applicable, the updating/revision (see appendix E);



e) The VAT on the sum of the following items listed above: b + c + d;


> f) The amount of work carried out or to be carried out on the property. f) The amount of work carried out or services provided, including VAT (b + c + d + e).


It also shows any deductions to be made:


> g) The works guarantee deduction g) Withholding tax on work carried out or services rendered, inclusive of tax but excluding price variations;


> h) Reduction in the level of unemployment in the country of origin. h) Repayment of the advance;


> i) Total to be deducted (including VAT) i) The total to be deducted (g + h) ;


j) The total sum remaining due (f - i);


> k) The sum due to the (x) k) The sum due to the subcontractor(s) (2) (3) (see attached certificate);


l) The sum due to the contractor (2) (3) (see attached certificate);


m) The sum due to the contractor (3) (see attached certificate) l) The sum due to the contractor (j - k) (subject to the application of penalties);


> m) The penalties applicable to the contractor (j - k) (subject to the application of penalties) m) The penalties applicable to the contractor (1);


n) The sum to be paid to the contractor (2) n) The sum to be paid to the contractor (l - m).


(1) These amounts are further substantiated by attached statements containing the calculations used to set the amount.


(2) Only the sums due to the subcontractor entitled to direct payment must appear in this section.


(3) In the case of contractors entitled to direct payment, these amounts must also be substantiated by attached statements containing:


1° The nature of the various services performed, their total amount excluding tax, their amount including tax and, where applicable, the amount of the price variations excluding tax and including tax. The cumulative sums paid to the subcontractor, excluding any impact of the price variation, must not exceed the maximum amount provided for in the special subcontracting agreement, which does not take account of this same price variation.


In the event of delegation of payment, the subcontractor must be informed of the amount of the price variation. 2° In the event of delegation of payment to the second-tier subcontractor, an indication of the sum to be paid to the first-tier subcontractor and the sum to be paid to the second-tier subcontractor, taking account of the delegation.

Mariela Petrova

Need help applying this article to your situation?

A registered French Lawyer explains what applies to your business — in English, fixed fee.

within 48h

Fixed Fee

Talk to a lawyer
Common Questions

Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

English · French · Russian

Ready When You Are

Talk To A Corporate
Lawyer In France.

A 20–30 minute call, in English, to scope the engagement. No obligation, no preliminary fee. You will leave the call with a clear view of what the work will cover and what it will cost.

First EngagementFixed Fee

Talk to a French lawyer.

Reply within 24 hours.

Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

Continue Reading

Related corporate services in France

01 / Setup

Setting up a French company

Choose between SAS, SARL, SA or SCI — and structure your first French entity around how you actually plan to operate.

Read More
02 / Operating

French commercial contracts

Distribution, agency, supply, services and IP licences — drafted around the protections French law actually gives.

Read More
03 / Disputes

Business disputes & litigation

Shareholder conflicts, commercial breaches and pre-litigation strategy — handled by the same team that knows the file.

Read More