Colombian pop star Shakira has finally won a long legal battle with Spanish tax authorities. The country’s national high court declared the 55 million euro fine imposed on Shakira invalid and ordered her to pay back the huge amount. Spain’s National High Court on Monday overturned a 2011 decision by the tax authority. In fact, there was a big debate that year as to whether Chaquis were tax residents or tax residents of Spain. The court made it clear that the tax department had failed to produce any proper evidence in support of their claim and imposed an illegal ban on the singer.
The world-famous singer, who was in a relationship with Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique at the time, criticized the tax authorities. He said the case was a well-planned campaign to tarnish his reputation. The court noted in its ruling that the Spanish tax authorities could not prove that the employees had spent more than 183 days in Spain in 2011, which was a minimum condition for becoming a Spanish taxpayer resident. Furthermore, it could not be proven that he had any financial interests in Spain or family ties to residents of the country.
Shakira’s legal team, on the other hand, argued that it was impossible for her to stay in Spain for more than half of the year. Because in 2011 he was busy traveling the world and attended about 120 music events or concerts in 37 different countries. “At the time, Shakira had no home of her own in Spain, no children and no business headquarters in the country,” they said in a statement. Shakira and PK had two children in 2013 and 2015 and later announced that they would be separating.
The court said the Spanish tax authorities must pay €55 million in fines and interest. However, the tax agency said it would appeal the ruling to Spain’s Supreme Court. Monday’s ruling does not affect previous settlements with Chakira for the 2012 through 2014 tax years, the agency added. Shakira also claimed not to be a tax resident of Spain, but in November 2023, under a settlement, she pleaded guilty to six counts of tax evasion in 2012–14 and agreed to pay a fine of €7.3 million to avoid a prison sentence. Shakira says she made the compromise to protect her children and focus on her career. However, Shakira’s team on Monday called the 2011 ruling a final victory. Later, an emotional Shakira said that after more than eight years of being the target of public outrage and a well-known campaign to defame her, the court had finally brought the truth to light.
