Shakira is to be refunded €55m (£48m) by Spain’s tax authority after the country’s National High Court ruled the money had been wrongly collected in a long-running tax dispute.
The court acquitted the singer of tax fraud allegations linked to the 2011 fiscal year, saying authorities failed to prove she spent the required 183 days in Spain to qualify as a tax resident. Judges ruled that Shakira had spent only 163 days in the country that year, making the tax demands and fines unlawful. The repayment includes around €24m in income tax and nearly €25m in penalties, plus interest.
In a statement following the ruling, Shakira said the decision had “finally set the record straight” after years of what she described as public attacks on her reputation. The singer said she had endured nearly eight years of legal pressure and media scrutiny, insisting there was “never any fraud”. She added that the ordeal had affected both her health and family life.
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Spain’s tax agency said it would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, meaning the repayment will not be made until a final ruling is reached. The case is separate from other tax disputes involving the singer, including a previous settlement reached to avoid trial in another fraud investigation. Meanwhile, Shakira is preparing to conclude her “Women Don’t Cry Anymore” world tour later this year and is also expected to perform at the FIFA Men’s World Cup final halftime show alongside Madonna and BTS.
