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Shakira receives a refund of 60 million euros (around 64 million dollars), after a Spanish court ruled in their favor in a long-running tax dispute.
On Monday, May 18, Spain’s National Court ruled that the Spanish tax authority had failed to prove that Shakira spent at least 183 days in the country in 2011 – the minimum legal requirement for income tax liability. The 60 million euros include a refund of taxes and fines plus interest.
In a statement to ROLLING STONE, the Colombian pop star celebrated the verdict: “After more than eight years of enduring brutal public attacks, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately compromised my health and the well-being of my family, the National Court of Justice has finally set the record straight. There was never any fraud, and the authority was never able to prove otherwise – simply because it wasn’t true.”
Relationship with Piqué no proof
During the trial, Spanish authorities attempted to tie Shakira to Spain through her then-new relationship with soccer star Gerard Piqué (the couple began dating in 2010 and separated in 2022), but the court ruled that a relationship was not the same as a marriage (according to the Associated Press). The judge also noted that the tax authority had failed to prove that Spain was “the main center or base” of Shakira’s business operations at the time.
Ultimately, the court found that the authorities could only provide evidence of 163 days of Shakira’s stay in Spain in 2011. To further support her position, Shakira pointed out that she had spent much of the year on tour – with 120 concerts in 2011 alone.
However, Shakira’s victory does not necessarily end the dispute. The Spanish tax authority said it would appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, saying no payment would be made until a final decision was made.
Shakira’s message to taxpayers
Still, the musician left no doubt about what today’s decision means for her and took issue with the way she was treated during the lengthy legal battle. “Every step of the process was punctured, distorted and exaggerated – my name and public image were used to send a threatening message to all other taxpayers,” Shakira said.
“Today that narrative collapses, with the full force of a court ruling. My greatest wish is that this ruling sets a precedent for the Treasury Department and benefits the thousands of ordinary citizens who are abused and worn down every day by a system that assumes their guilt and forces them to prove their innocence at the cost of their economic and psychological ruin. This victory is dedicated to them.”
Shakira has faced other tax cases in Spain over the years. In 2023, she agreed to a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of 7 million euros in a separate fraud case – a day before the trial was due to begin. In that case, she was accused of evading income taxes amounting to 14.5 million euros between 2012 and 2014. A further investigation into suspected tax fraud from 2018 was launched in July 2023, but in May 2024 investigators concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support further charges.
