Shakira cleared in Spanish tax fraud case after 8-year battle
By AP, May 18, 2026A Spanish court acquitted Shakira in a tax fraud case, ordering the government to return more than Ksh 8.3 billion ($64 million) in wrongly imposed fines, a court document seen Monday by The Associated Press said.
The decision follows years of tax troubles in Spain for the Colombian superstar.
The ruling relates to a dispute over the 2011 tax year in which Spanish tax authorities did not prove that the singer was a resident of Spain, the Madrid-based court said in its decision.
For a person to be considered a tax resident in Spain, they must spend more than 183 days in the country.
Spanish authorities were only able to prove that Shakira lived in Spain that year for a total of 163 days, the court said, ordering the Treasury to reimburse the singer the tax paid plus interest.
“There was never any fraud, and the Tax Agency itself was never able to prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true,” Shakira said in a statement provided by her lawyers.
Spain’s Treasury is to reimburse the singer Ksh 9.2 billion (almost $70 million), including interest, Shakira’s lawyer said.
“This resolution comes after an eight-year ordeal that has taken an unacceptable toll, reflecting a lack of rigour in administrative practices,” her lawyer, José Luís Prada, said in a statement.
Shakira is a Latin music superstar known for her powerful voice, energetic performances, and signature blend of Latin, pop, and dance influences. She rose to international fame with hit songs like Whenever, Wherever and Hips Don’t Lie, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Over her career, she has won multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, including the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl halftime show.
Spain’s tax authorities have, over the past decade or so, cracked down on soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for not paying their full due in taxes.
Those players were found guilty of tax evasion but avoided prison time thanks to a provision that allows a judge to waive sentences under two years in length for first-time offenders.