Award-winning French actress Isabelle Adjani’s prison sentence was reduced Wednesday in connection with a tax fraud case that has been playing out in French courts for years. However, that’s not the end of the road for the veteran performer.
The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed Adjani’s conviction for aggravated tax fraud and money laundering but reduced the punishments from the original verdict on July 1, 2026.
Adjani will continue her fight against the ruling by taking her case to the Court of Cassation.
Conviction Confirmed by Paris Appeal Court
Adjani was found guilty by the Paris Court of Appeal of charges related to aggravated tax fraud as well as money laundering. She was sentenced to ten months of suspended prison time and ordered to pay a fine of €10,000.
According to court documents, the five-time César Award-winning actress fraudulently stated that she was tax resident of Portugal in 2016 and 2017. This allowed her to escape paying roughly €236,000 in French income taxes. She was also accused of funneling €120,000 through a U. S.-based bank account that she failed to declare while obscuring a €2 million gift by mislabeling it as a loan.
The verdict confirmed the actress guilty but softens the blow of what could have been a much harsher penalty.
Appeal Marks Huge Win for Adjani After Initial Judgment
Appeal judges issued a substantial reduction from the penalties initially put forth by French authorities.
Previously, the actress faced up to two years in prison as well as a significantly larger fine.
In a statement following Wednesday’s decision, Adjani called the ruling “a positive first step.” She went on to say that she believes the case is not yet “finished.”
Adjani praised her attorneys in a statement but confirmed that they will be taking her case to France’s highest criminal court. According to her legal team, they plan to appeal because they believe that “key arguments were not heard.”
“In complete submission to the controlled economy advisors she relied upon,” Adjani previously said during the trial.
Adjani Said She Trusted Experts With Her Taxes
Adjani has maintained her innocence throughout the legal battle, arguing that she trusted tax professionals to advise her on her finances.
During the trial, she shockingly revealed that she has never filled out her own tax return, claiming that she suffers from a “phobia of papers.”
Adjani added that she lived between different locations and should not be tied down as tax resident to France because she kept a home stocked with personal items in Carcavelos, Portugal.
The French taxpayers’ union contradicted those claims by telling AFP that the actress’s Portugal home was a “totally fictitious setup.”
