Latin pop sensation Shakira has been making headlines for several months now. In June, news that the singer’s 11-year relationship with footballer Gerard Pique had unraveled dominated news reports for weeks. Less than two months later, Shakira was facing yet another conundrum; this time in the legal sphere.Following the controversial split, reports emerged that Shakira’s tax evasion wrangle with Spanish tax authorities had escalated to new heights. As things stand, Spanish authorities are poised to proceed to trial and threatening to slam the Colombian singer with a hefty fine and a lengthy prison sentence. We take a deep dive into Shakira’s multi-million-dollar tax evasion case and its potential consequences for the Waka Waka Singer.
8 When Did Shakira’s Legal Woes Begin?
Shakira’s tax evasion battle dates back to 2018, when Spanish authorities accused her of evading taxes amounting to 14.5 million Euros (approximately $15 million) between 2012 and 2014.
In 2021, Spanish judge, Marco Jesus Juberias, wrapped pretrial investigations into the allegations, paving way for trial. The judge concluded that "the documents (...) annexed to the lawsuit are sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to continue with the proceedings."
7 Shakira Rejected A Settlement Deal With Spanish Authorities
In July 2022, Spanish authorities offered Shakira a settlement deal, whose terms have yet to come to light. Shakira rejected the deal, confident that the judicial process would prove her innocence.
“The Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case,” read a statement from one of Shakira’s representatives. “Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process."
6 Shakira Is Charged With Six Counts Of Tax Fraud
Shakira’s refusal to settle with Spanish authorities brought her a step closer to going to trial. After settlement negotiations went belly up, prosecutors unveiled six charges of tax fraud against the singer.
According to the Spanish newspaper El País, the authorities cited the outrageous amount of money owed as well as Shakira’s history of using tax havens to shore off her substantial net worth as aggravating factors in their case.
5 Spanish Authorities Have Accused Shakira Of Lying About Her Residence
The prosecution’s case hinges on Shakira’s residence between 2012 and 2014. Prosecutors allege that Shakira was residing in the Spanish region of Catalonia during those years, despite claiming to reside in the Bahamas.
The singer allegedly spent more than 200 days in Spain in each of the specified years, exceeding the maximum number of days (184) required to become a resident of Spain for tax purposes. This tally is based on a reconstruction of the pop singer’s schedule, drawn from public sightings, performances, and photographers.
4 Shakira Denies Lying About Her Residence
Shakira’s legal representatives argue that the singer was not a permanent resident of Spain until 2015, when she, her partner, Gerard Piqué, and their two children, relocated to Barcelona.
However, the Colombian singer failed to prove that she did not reside in Spain during the specified period in a recent appeal of the 2021 ruling.
3 Shakira Denies Hiding Her Income From Spanish Tax Authorities
Shakira has denied all the allegations leveled against her, insisting that she made no deliberate attempts to hide her income from the Spanish tax agency.
“Shakira’s conduct on tax matters has always been impeccable in all the countries where she has had to pay taxes,” read a statement from Shakira’s P.R. firm, “and she has trusted and faithfully followed the recommendations of the best specialists and expert advisors.”
2 Shakira Claims To Have No Outstanding Dues With Spain’s Tax Office
Shakira’s representatives claim that the singer deposited the amount owed to the tax agency as soon as she was notified. The singer also remitted an additional 3 million Euros in interest.
Shakira’s representatives attributed the oversight to "a difference in criteria" rather than willful tax evasion. The mother of two's speedy attempts to remedy the misunderstanding might be considered a mitigating factor when it comes to sentencing.
1 Shakira Faces Up To Eight Years In Prison If Found Guilty
While Spanish authorities are set to proceed to trial, a date is yet to be scheduled. Spanish authorities are set on making sure the singer pays heavily for her alleged crimes.
If proven guilty in the looming trial, Shakira stands to lose a significant portion of her net worth and, possibly, spend close to a decade of her life in prison. Prosecutors are seeking an eight-year prison sentence and a fine of over 23 million Euros (approximately $23.5 million) should a guilty verdict be rendered.