Colombian pop sensation Shakira has struck a financial settlement with Spanish prosecutors, concluding a looming tax fraud trial that was set to commence. In an unexpected turn of events, the renowned singer has agreed to pay a substantial fine of $7.5 million (£6.5 million) to resolve the case. This decision comes as a surprise, as prosecutors had originally sought an eight-year jail sentence and a hefty fine of €23.8 million (£20.8 million) if Shakira had been found guilty of the alleged tax fraud.
The charges against Shakira revolved around €14.5 million (£12.7 million) in tax fraud allegations during the years 2012 to 2014, centered in a Barcelona court. Throughout the legal proceedings, Shakira steadfastly maintained her innocence, consistently denying any wrongdoing. However, in a lengthy statement, she expressed that her ultimate motivation for settling the case was the well-being and desires of her children, emphasizing their wish to see their mother free from the legal battle.
Shakira had initially declined a settlement offer from the prosecutors, opting instead to face trial. The crux of the matter rested on Shakira’s residency status during the specified years. Spanish tax law dictates that individuals who spend more than six months within the country must be considered residents for tax purposes. Shakira countered these claims, asserting that Spain was not her primary place of residence during that period.
The dispute escalated when prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that Shakira had purchased a residence in Barcelona in 2012, which she shared with her then-partner, Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué. Shakira’s legal team argued that the majority of her income during that time was generated from international tours, leading to extended periods spent outside of Spain.
In 2015, Shakira officially declared Spain as her tax residence and stated that she had paid €17.2 million (£15 million) in taxes with no outstanding debts. In a separate case, Gerard Piqué was fined €2.1 million (£1.8 million) by the Spanish national court in 2019 for tax evasion between 2008 and 2010.
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