Shakira Settles $15 Million Tax Fraud Case In Spain

On Monday, Colombian pop star Shakira settled with Spanish prosecutors to avoid trial in Barcelona and a possible prison sentence.

In 2012 and 2014, Shakira was charged in Barcelona for her failure to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in Spanish income tax. Part of the deal saw her accept the charge and a fine of 50% of the amount she owed – over 7.3 million euros.

In the initial hearing of the trial, she also accepted an additional fine of 438,000 euros to avoid a three-year prison sentence.

Judge Jose Manuel del Amo Sanchez asked Shakira if she acknowledged the facts and agreed with the new penalties, to which she responded affirmatively.

Shakira arrived at the court just before 10 a.m., accompanied by her legal team, dressed in a pink suit with a pink handbag and sunglasses. 

Previously, the singer had vowed to contest what she deemed as false accusations. Additionally, she faces another tax fraud investigation with Spanish authorities.

The prosecutor’s office had sought a prison term of up to eight years and aimed to recover the unpaid taxes. 

The allegations stated that Shakira had spent the majority of each of the relevant years in Spain and was thus considered a resident of the country. Prosecutors claimed that a property she purchased in Barcelona in May 2012 served as her family’s home.

Spanish authorities have actively pursued several high-profile figures for tax evasion, such as soccer players like Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, Lionel Messi from Argentina and Diego Costa, who holds dual Brazilian-Spanish nationality. All three individuals reached settlements and paid substantial fines.

However, Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso chose not to settle and instead opted to contest the charges. He eventually won his trial against the tax agency – last month, Spain’s Supreme Court upheld his acquittal and solidified his legal victory.

Shakira recently moved to Miami with her two sons after her well-documented split from Spanish soccer star, Gerard Piqué.