CHAPTER I: Budgets and accounts

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Article D3661-3

French General Code of Local AuthoritiesIn force

Updated 4 Nov 2023

The chapters of the budgets voted by nature correspond:

a) Investment section :

- to each of the two-digit accounts in classes 1 and 2 open to the nomenclature by nature, with the exception of the accounts "Retained earnings" , "Profit for the financial year" , "Provisions for liabilities and charges" , "Differences on realisation of fixed assets" , "Fixed assets assigned, conceded, leased or made available" , "Depreciation of fixed assets" , "Depreciation of fixed assets" ;

- to each of the globalised chapters;

- to each operation voted by the deliberative assembly. The operation corresponds to a set of acquisitions of fixed assets, work on fixed assets and related study costs, leading to the completion of a work or several works of the same nature. This operation may also include capital grants paid;

- to the "RSA" global expenditure and revenue chapters, respectively tracking all investment expenditure and revenue relating to the revenu de solidarité active;

- to each of the operations on behalf of third parties;

- to the "Equipment subsidies paid" account;

- on the revenue side, to the line entitled "Transfer from the operating section";

- on the revenue side, to the line entitled "Proceeds from disposals of fixed assets";

- on the expenditure side, to the "Unforeseen expenditure" chapter, which only includes a programme authorisation with no payment appropriations.

These last three chapters include only forecasts with no realisations.

b) Operating section:

- to the two-digit accounts of classes 6 and 7 open to the nomenclature by nature, with the exception of accounts forming part of globalised chapters;

- to each of the globalised chapters;

- to the globalised "RSA" expenditure and revenue chapters, respectively tracking all operating expenditure and revenue relating to the active solidarity income ;

- to the global expenditure and revenue chapters for "APA" , covering all expenditure and all operating revenue relating to the allocation personnalisée à l'autonomie (personalised autonomy allowance) respectively;

- on the revenue side, to the account entitled "Direct taxation" ;

- on the expenditure side, to the account entitled "Elected representatives' group operating expenses";

- on the expenditure side, to the line entitled "Transfer to the investment section";

- on the expenditure side, to the chapter entitled "Unforeseen expenditure" , which only includes a commitment authorisation with no payment appropriation.

These last two chapters only include forecasts that have not been implemented.

Mariela Petrova

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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

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

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