Help at home from La Poste

LA POSTE'S GENIUS SERVICE CAN HELP YOU FIND ASSISTANCE AT HOME LA POSTE’S Genius service can help you find assistance at home with tasks like cleaning, home tutoring, gardening, DIY,

letter-writing and administration, IT support and care for children or the elderly. You can buy a Genius card for €36 a year and then order services as often as you like, paying providers

directly (various money-off deals are included). The other option is “packs” for specific jobs - eg. a “three-hours of gardening” pack for €99.50. Either way, you phone a Genius adviser and

they guarantee to put a suitable person in touch within 48 hours. All costs are eligible for the home help tax reduction/credit - 50% of the cost (up to a set annual ceiling) off your next

income tax assessment. This is paid as a cheque if you are registered as a taxpayer but below thresholds to actually pay income tax. Get more information from post offices,

www.genius-laposte.fr or via the Genius helpline on 08 92 69 25 92 (French). This year there is a one-off increase of €3,000 in the home help tax reduction/ credit ceilings, only for those

who this year, paid for services at home for the first time. The ceilings are usually €12,000 plus €1,500 per dependent, with a €15,000 top ceiling. However for eligible people declaring

this year’s income (on tax forms in 2011) the ceilings will be between €15,000 - €18,000. The maximum is €20,000 if the taxpayer or a dependent is disabled. However certain kinds of services

have their own ceilings: €3,000 for small gardening jobs, €500 for handyman work and €1,000 for IT help.