Spain Ordered To Return $70 Million To Shakira After Court Ruling

2026-05-19 05:31:04

(MENAFN- Khaama Press) A court in Spain cleared Colombian pop singer Shakira of tax fraud allegations and ordered authorities to return nearly $70 million, including penalties and interest.

Spain's High Court ruled that tax authorities failed to prove Shakira had spent more than 183 days in Spain in 2011, the legal threshold required to classify someone as a tax resident.

The court said the penalties imposed on the singer were unlawful because officials could not establish that her tax residence that year was in Spain.

Spanish tax authorities said they would appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court and that no payment would be made until a final decision is issued.

Shakira's lawyer welcomed the ruling after what he described as“eight years of suffering,” while the singer said she hoped the decision would help ordinary citizens facing similar legal battles.

Spanish authorities have intensified investigations into alleged tax evasion involving celebrities, athletes and high-profile business figures in recent years, leading to several major court cases.

In a separate case in 2023, Shakira reached a settlement with Spanish prosecutors over allegations she failed to pay 14.5 million euros in taxes between 2012 and 2014, agreeing to pay millions in fines to avoid a trial.

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