Every spring, it's the same thing: tax filing season arrives faster than you think. For a trader, it has a particular flavor, because several forms can pile up. Good news: with a simple method and a bit of organization, it becomes a formality. Here's the complete checklist, whatever your profile.
First, understand what we're talking about
A tax is simply your contribution to the running of public services: roads, hospitals, schools. In France, the declaration is an annual appointment where you tell the administration what you earned the previous year. The administration then calculates what you owe. The principle is the same as for an employee: you don't set the amount, you declare, they calculate.
A word on the acronyms: the 2042 is the "main" declaration, the one everyone fills out. The other forms (2042 C, 2074, 2086, 2035, 3916) are annexes that complete it when your situation requires it. Think of a file: the 2042 is the main folder, the others are the sheets stapled inside.
To orient yourself, the year declared is always the previous one: in spring 2025, you declare 2024 income. Remember this offset, it avoids a lot of confusion.
The forms depending on what you do
- 2042 C: the reporting of your amounts (income, capital gains, BNC). It's the sheet that summarizes the essentials of your situation as a trader.
- 2074: the details of capital gains on securities (stocks, ETFs, etc.).
- 2086: disposals of crypto-assets.
- 2035: if you're under BNC on actual earnings (prop firm payouts, regular activity). "BNC" stands for Bénéfices Non Commerciaux: the tax regime for income from an independent activity, such as that of a trader who does it as a profession.
- 3916 / 3916-bis: your broker accounts and digital assets held abroad.
Keep in mind: you don't choose your form, your situation determines it. So start by identifying your regime, and the rest follows naturally. According to service-public.fr, these forms are indeed distinct and each responds to a specific case — it's better to check each year, because the boxes and thresholds change.
Adapt to your regime
Three main families, three logics:
- Occasional individual: you trade from time to time, without making it an activity. Your gains are subject to the PFU (Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique) of 30%. Put concretely: on €100 of gain, the State takes €30.
- Regular activity: you trade on a regular basis, as a profession. You then fall under BNC, on micro or actual earnings depending on your revenue.
- Company: you've set up a structure. Then corporate tax applies, with its own declaration logic.
The form follows the regime — so start by knowing where you stand. Unsure? Now is the time to ask yourself the question, not in May, the day before the deadline.
Declare even a losing year
It's counterintuitive, but crucial: a loss is carried forward for 10 years against gains of the same nature. By declaring it, you build up a "stock" of losses that will reduce your taxes in good years. Not declaring it means losing it. Imagine a shopping cart: each declared loss is like a discount voucher you set aside — it's useless today, but it will save you money later. Over a full year, this stock can represent a significant sum.
Never forget foreign accounts
IBKR, a crypto exchange, a payout portfolio outside France… any account held abroad must be declared (3916 / 3916-bis). It's the most frequent oversight, and it costs a fine — even without the slightest gain. In other words, even an account that produced nothing must be reported. According to service-public.fr, this obligation concerns both bank accounts and digital asset accounts. The reflex is simple: if the account is outside France, it goes on the list.
Keep everything, all year long
Statements, histories, proof of payout: archive them as you go, not in a panic in May. A clean file means a fast and defensible declaration. Concretely, a well-kept file saves you hours and spares you bad surprises if the administration asks you for a document.
A good reflex: note each month's significant transactions, keep your brokers' annual statements and retain withdrawal receipts. It's the same logic as a car maintenance log: you don't use it every day, but the day you're asked for it, you're glad to have it.
And if you trade on a regular basis?
If your activity becomes regular, keeping rigorous accounts is no longer an option: it becomes the basis of your declaration. That's where a well-kept trading journal makes all the sense. On the JARVIS member area, the journal lets you record screenshots, results and feelings, and the "Mon Trading" hub gathers your statistics. A valuable tool, both for progressing and for calmly preparing your declaration. The complete training path, with its bootcamps and mentoring, helps you structure this regularity.
To go further, the JARVIS METHOD training offers a structured path: market basics, risk management and the discipline needed to last. It's also the framework that helps you think of your activity as a business, rather than as a series of lucky breaks.
The pitfalls to avoid
- Forgetting the 3916: the most frequent mistake, and the most costly. Even without gain, a foreign account must be declared.
- Believing a losing year isn't declared: it's exactly the opposite. The declared loss becomes an asset for later.
- Confusing occasional and regular: the regime changes everything, and getting it wrong means filling out the wrong form.
- Keeping everything "for later": May is not the time to reconstruct twelve months of history.
- Trusting a box seen last year: boxes and thresholds change every year. Always verify.
The right rhythm, month by month
No need to think about it every day. A simple rhythm is enough:
- Every month: note your significant transactions and archive your statements.
- At the end of the year: gather the documents from your brokers and exchanges.
- In the spring: fill out your declaration, annex by annex, without rushing.
- After the campaign: check your tax notice and keep everything.
This rhythm avoids the last-minute rush, and leaves you time to check each point calmly.
And the other tools that help day to day
The declaration is only one moment of the year. The rest of the time, it's habits that make the difference: a clear plan, disciplined risk management, decent lifestyle hygiene. JARVIS's mindset coaching works on discipline and emotional management, and the "Ma forme" section addresses the trader's lifestyle hygiene. On the practical side, the Telegram assistant offers a plan for the day, a morning market brief, a news watch and reminders. And if you're looking for a broker or a prop firm, the platform's comparative directories gather the useful info, such as withdrawal times.
To understand the markets and the economic news underlying your operations, the blog and JARVIS Lectures publish analyses every day, with a glossary and country fact sheets. A good way to become familiar with the vocabulary — and therefore to better understand the documents you'll have to declare.
The essentials in one sentence
Declare, even a losing year; never forget foreign accounts; keep everything as you go. Three reflexes, and your declaration becomes a simple formality — not a headache.
Indicative information (France) — not tax advice. Boxes and thresholds change every year: check with service-public.fr and, at the slightest doubt, consult an accountant. Educational content: trading involves a risk of capital loss, this is not investment advice.