The Colombian singer Shakira seems to be going to court in Spain. According to media reports, she has decided to go to court rather than accept an out-of-court settlement deal that Spanish prosecutors say she was offered. The case involves allegations that the musician in Spain is said to have evaded 14.5 million euros in taxes.
Tax Dispute
Shakira is "innocent" and has decided to "put the matter in the hands of the law," Spanish media outlets like Marca quoted a statement from the pop star's team as saying. The allegations against the singer date back to 2018. At that time, she was accused by the authorities of not paying 14.5 million euros in taxes on income from the years 2012 to 2014. According to "El Pais", she faces a fine and, in the worst case, jail time if she is found guilty of tax evasion. It is apparently not yet known what kind of deal Shakira was offered or when the process could start.
Bahamas or Barcelona?
Shakira's team said the singer had deposited the amount she allegedly owed with the Spanish tax authorities and had no outstanding tax debts, according to media reports. Now it has to be clarified where the 45-year-old mainly lived between 2012 and 2014. Investigators claim it was in Spain, although Shakira's official residence at the time was in the Bahamas. The singer denies that, only later did she mainly live in Barcelona.
Spanish tax law states that anyone staying in Spain for at least six months and a day - or 183 days - in any given year must pay taxes there, a Madrid tax consultant told CNN.
Shakira has two children with Barcelona star Gerard Piqué. Their first son Milan was born in early 2013, and their second son Sasha followed in early 2015. The artist and the soccer professional ended their relationship in early June 2022 after more than ten years together.
