A self-employed lawyer in France, established or collaborateur, pays contributions on non-commercial profit, including health insurance, family allowances, pension with the CNBF, CSG and CRDS.
A fee retrocession is not a salary: to know what you really keep, expenses and contributions must be deducted.
What the simulator calculates
- Detailed social contributions
- Net income, before tax
- Income after French income tax
- Monthly or annual figures
- The effect of different fee and expense assumptions
The simulator covers practice in your own name (non-commercial profits). It does not cover professional practice companies. Bar fees are not calculated: add them to your expenses.
This official simulator is provided by Urssaf, the French social security agency (mon-entreprise.urssaf.fr). It loads from its website when you start it.
Indicative result, based on the figures entered and the rules known to date. It is no substitute for professional analysis: check your situation with a chartered accountant before deciding.
What next?
The simulator gives an order of magnitude. Bookkeeping, VAT on fees, the 2035 return and a possible move to a company need year-round follow-up. See liberal professions
No accountant yet? Estimate now the budget for your support by a chartered accountant, for your situation: estimate my budget · After incorporation, start on a sound footing
Already have an accountant? See first how to change accountant, in 3 steps, before booking your meeting.
Frequently asked questions
Where do lawyers pay pension contributions?
To the CNBF, the French bar pension fund, for basic and supplementary pensions and for the invalidity-death scheme.
Lawyer: is a collaborateur libéral covered by the simulator?
Yes: they receive fee retrocessions and pay contributions on their own profit, after deducting their expenses.
Lawyer: does practising through a company change contributions?
Yes. In a professional practice company, contributions depend on pay and, where applicable, on part of the dividends. This simulator does not cover that case. See director’s pay
Are a lawyer’s fees subject to VAT in France?
In principle yes, unless the VAT franchise applies because income stays below the threshold. Enter your fees excluding VAT in the simulator.
Are the lawyer contributions simulator results reliable?
The simulator is kept up to date with French social security rules by Urssaf. It gives an estimate: bar fees, insurance contracts and your personal situation can change the final figures.
Self-employed lawyer: does your accountant keep the books and file the 2035 return?
Yes: our accounting and tax engagement covers the bookkeeping, the 2035 return (self-employed professional income) and the anticipation of your contributions, looking at your whole situation (income, household tax). For a practice company (SELARL, SELAS), we also prepare the company’s accounts. Get my free meeting and quote
Lawyer already working with an accountant: how do you join us?
It is simple: you send your termination letter to your previous firm by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt (we give you an example to adapt); once our engagement letter is signed, we organise the handover of your file with them. See the steps to change accountant