Shakira Reaches Settlement with Spanish Tax Authorities, Avoids Prison for Tax Fraud Case: Details from Barcelona Court

ReutersShakira and her lawyer at the Barcelona court

NOS News•today, 08:25•Changed today, 10:55

Singer Shakira has reached a settlement with the Spanish tax authorities in a fraud case involving millions. According to the judge, the singer “exchanged prison for fines”.

As part of the settlement, Shakira will pay at least 14.5 million euros, an amount that she is said to have evaded. She also agrees to fines totaling more than 7.7 million, including to avoid a three-year prison sentence.

Shakira is said to have withheld 14.5 million euros in this fraud case between 2012 and 2014, for which the first hearing took place today in the Barcelona court.

Barcelona

The Public Prosecution Service demanded a prison sentence of eight years and a fine of 23.7 million euros. Shakira previously rejected a settlement offer from the Public Prosecution Service because she says she did nothing wrong. The singer herself is also present at the trial today.

The Colombian singer lived in Barcelona for years when she was in a relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué. The two separated last year after an eleven-year relationship.

The Spanish justice accused Shakira of tampering with residences and companies to evade income taxes on a large scale. Spain’s tax authorities say she is obliged to pay taxes if she has spent 183 or more days in the country.

Bahamas

Shakira said she did not live in Spain between 2012 and 2014, but in the Bahamas because her work led to a ‘nomadic life’. Only after 2015 did she move to Spain.

Spanish justice stated that she did not spend a day in her home in the Bahamas from 2012 to 2014 and that she only left Spain for television recordings in the United States. She is said to have bought a house in Barcelona in May 2012 where she lived with her family.

Second tax fraud case

Last summer, Spanish justice again charged Shakira with tax fraud. She is also said to have evaded taxes in 2018, worth 6.6 million euros.

Spanish media report that Shakira has used several letterbox companies to take advantage of favorable tax rules, including one in Amsterdam.

2023-11-20 09:55:19
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