Five-Year Administrative Dispute Ends With Rennes Court Order
On October 13, 2026, the administrative tribunal of Rennes ruled in favor of artist-author Haroun Chikh, ordering the tax administration to disburse 12,315 euros in delayed Covid-19 solidarity funds within one month, rennes-infos-autrement.fr reported. The decision resolves a dispute that began in 2021 when Chikh, who directs the enterprise 88 Prod, initially sought state aid to offset pandemic-related income losses.
The conflict started when Chikh submitted a claim for 10,000 euros on July 17, 2021, covering pandemic losses for the month of May. Two days later, tax authorities requested supporting documents via email. According to the artist, the message landed in his spam folder. Because he did not respond, the administration closed his file on August 25, 2021. Chikh had already submitted those same documents months earlier during a successful application for April 2021 aid.
Court Findings Overturn Prior Tax Administration Closures
Chikh brought the matter before the administrative tribunal in December 2023. Magistrates determined that the applicant met all eligibility criteria for the May 2021 aid. During the proceedings, the tax administration acknowledged its defense and accepted the 10,000 euro payout for May.
A separate hurdle involved a claim for 2,315 euros for August 2021. Chikh reported technical malfunctions on the official state portal that prevented him from submitting his file before the deadline. He had flagged these website errors to the administration by email on October 29, 2021, before the cut-off date. The tribunal confirmed these technical failures, leading judges to annul the initial refusal for the second sum as well.
Timeline of the 12,315 Euro Payout
- July 17, 2021: Haroun Chikh files for 10,000 euros in May Covid-19 relief.
- August 25, 2021: Tax authorities close the May dossier due to an unanswered email request for documents.
- October 29, 2021: Chikh emails the administration to report portal malfunctions blocking his August application.
- December 2023: Chikh formally seizes the Rennes administrative tribunal to challenge the withheld funds.
- October 13, 2026: The Rennes administrative tribunal orders the state to pay 12,315 euros within one month.