A Spanish court has acquitted Shakira in a tax fraud case, ordering the government to return more than 55 million euros ($64 million) in wrongly imposed fines, according to a court document seen Monday by The Associated Press. The decision marks a significant turn in the Colombian superstar's years-long tax troubles in Spain.
About the Tax Fraud Case
The ruling pertains to a dispute over the 2011 tax year, where Spanish authorities failed to prove that the singer was a resident of Spain, the Madrid-based court stated. Under Spanish law, a person is considered a tax resident if they spend more than 183 days in the country. Authorities could only demonstrate that Shakira was present for 163 days that year. The court ordered the Treasury to reimburse the singer the tax paid plus interest.
Spain's tax agency argued that Shakira was tied to Spain through her relationship with then-partner, retired soccer player Gerard Pique, and that her main economic activities were based in the country. However, the High Court ruled that the relationship could not be legally equated to a marital one, nor was it proven that the main center of her activities or economic interests in 2011 were located in Spain.
Shakira Issues Statement
"There was never any fraud, and the Tax Agency itself was never able to prove otherwise, simply because it wasn't true," Shakira said in a statement provided by her lawyers. Spain's Treasury is to reimburse the singer 60 million euros (almost $70 million), including interest, according to her lawyer. "This resolution comes after an eight-year ordeal that has taken an unacceptable toll, reflecting a lack of rigor in administrative practices," attorney Jose Luis Prada added.
Shakira Reaches Deal with Spanish Prosecutors
In 2023, Shakira reached a separate deal with Spanish prosecutors to avoid trial over charges of unpaid income tax worth 14.5 million euros (then $15.8 million) between 2012 and 2014. She accepted the charges and paid 7.3 million euros (then $8 million) in addition to the previously unpaid taxes and interest. The "Hips Don't Lie" singer was also named in the 2017 "Paradise Papers" leaks detailing offshore tax arrangements of high-profile individuals. Spain's tax authorities have cracked down on soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for tax evasion, though they avoided prison time under a provision for first-time offenders.
