Shakira Wins Tax Case, Spain Ordered to Repay €60m

Spain’s Supreme Court has acquitted Colombian singer Shakira of tax fraud charges and overturned a €55m ($60m) fine imposed by Spanish tax authorities in 2021.

The court found that authorities had failed to prove the singer spent more than 183 days in Spain in 2011, the threshold required to establish tax residency under Spanish law. Prosecutors had argued that Shakira maintained strong ties to Spain through her relationship with former Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué and that her main center of activity was based in the country.

Under the ruling, the state must repay more than €60m ($65m), including interest. The decision can still be challenged before the Supreme Court and does not cover tax years after 2011.

In a separate case, Shakira reached an agreement with prosecutors in 2023 over unpaid income tax for the years 2012 to 2014. She accepted the charges and agreed to pay a fine of more than €7.3m ($8m).

(reuters, bak)