the invention relates to a method for preparing difluoroacetic acid and the salts thereof . the invention also relates to the preparation of difluoroacetyl fluoride used as an intermediate product in the preparation of difluoroacetic acid . the method for preparing difluoroacetic acid according to the invention is characterized in that the same comprises the step of preparing difluoroacetyl fluoride by reacting dichloroacetyl chloride with hydrofluoric acid in a gaseous phase and in the presence of a chromium - based catalyst , followed by the step of hydrolysing the difluoroacetyl fluoride thus obtained .