A Spanish court has acquitted Shakira of tax fraud and ordered the country's Treasury to refund €55 million, approximately $64 million, plus interest to the Colombian superstar, bringing an end to one chapter of a legal dispute that has stretched nearly a decade.
Court Ruling Details
Spain's National High Court ruled that tax authorities had failed to prove Shakira spent the minimum 183 days in the country in 2011 required to establish tax residency. The court determined she was present for 163 days that year, 20 days short of the threshold, making the income tax charges and accompanying fines unlawful.
In a statement following the ruling, Shakira said the court had "finally set the record straight" after eight years of what she described as orchestrated campaigns to damage her reputation, public targeting, and sleepless nights that affected both her health and her family. "There was never any fraud," she said, "and the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn't true."
The repayment covers roughly €24 million in income tax and nearly €25 million in fines that authorities had previously classified as a "very serious" infringement. Spain's tax agency has since announced it will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, meaning no funds will be released until a final decision is reached.
Background of the Case
The case dates back to a period when Shakira was living with former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Piqué, whom she reportedly met in 2010 during the filming of Waka Waka, the official anthem of that year's FIFA World Cup. The dispute is one of several between the singer and Spanish tax authorities, separate from a broader fraud case she settled in 2018 to avoid trial. In her latest statement, she dedicated the court's ruling to ordinary citizens she said had been put through similar ordeals at great personal and financial cost.
Current Developments
The ruling arrives at a notable moment. Shakira is confirmed to perform alongside Madonna and BTS at the half-time show of this summer's FIFA Men's World Cup final and has since released the official anthem of the 2026 World Cup featuring Burna Boy. Spain's tax agency's appeal means the matter is not entirely closed, but for now, the court has ruled in her favour.
