Anger as families sent tax bills for Paris terror attack victims

Families still struggling with grief and trying to come to terms with the November 13th terror attack that left 130 dead have had to deal with some extra pain after they were sent tax bills for their dead loved ones.

Published: 11 May 2016 11:20 CEST

French president François Hollande greets families of those killed in the terror attacks. Photo: AFP

A law in France states that unpaid tax bills of those who died must be covered by their families, and it appears there is no exception for those killed in the horrific terror attacks of last November.

But the families want an exception to be made given the nature of the terror attacks saying that their loved ones “died for France”.

Patricia Correia (see photo below), whose daughter Précilia was gunned down by the jihadists at the Bataclan music venue, accuses France’s fiscal authorities of insensitivity.

“To make us pay the taxes of a child was murdered is unacceptable,” she told BFM TV.

“We already have enough sufferings and costs in our everyday life. This needs to be looked at closely and that there is a sensible response, namely that we are exempt from these taxes,” said the grieving mother.

Correia is among around 20 families who have contacted the victims’ support group “13 November fraternity and truth” to ask for help over what to do with the tax bills.

The association has asked for a meeting with officials from the Finance Ministry at Bercy to express the anger of the victims. However so far the suits at Bercy have failed to respond. Correia has managed to persuade tax authorities to put back the deadline for the payment of the bill.

For the victims’ support group the nature of the death of her daughter and of the 129 other victims means the Ministry of Finance has only one choice to make.

“These people did not die for their business or old age. They died for France. This is what they said at the Invalides Memorial Service after the attacks,” said Bataclan survivor Emmanuel Domenach, from the victims’ support group.

“If they died for France, then France owes them,” he said.

His association would like France to introduce a rule whereby those killed in the terror attacks are automatically exempt from income taxes.

In December the French government revealed that as much as €300 million of compensation would be shared out among the victims of the terror attacks.

Many families however say they are still waiting for the money.