Colombian singer Shakira, a multi-award-winning artist, is set to appear in a Barcelona court on Monday to face charges of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of €14.5 million.
Living in Miami with her two children, the 46-year-old musician could potentially face up to eight years in jail and a hefty €24 million fine if found guilty. The allegations stem from the claim that Shakira, a Latin Grammy winner, spent more than six months as a Spanish resident during the years 2012 to 2014, making her liable for taxes—an assertion she vehemently denies.
To substantiate her residency status, the prosecution has enlisted the testimony of 117 witnesses, including individuals such as hairdressers, studio technicians, dance teachers, therapists, beauticians, gynecologists, and even her chauffeur.
Shakira contends that the tax authorities are orchestrating a campaign to tarnish her image, accusing them of using her as an example for other Spanish taxpayers. Conversely, the prosecution alleges that she intentionally sought to defraud the exchequer by concealing earnings in tax havens.
In a previous interview, Shakira stated, “These are false accusations. First of all, I didn’t spend 183 days per year at that time at all. I was busy fulfilling my professional commitments around the world. Second, I’ve paid everything they claimed I owed, even before they filed a lawsuit. So, as of today, I owe zero to them. The Spanish tax authorities saw that I was dating a Spanish citizen and started to salivate. It’s clear they wanted to go after that money no matter what. They knew I wasn’t in Spain the required time, that Spain wasn’t my place of work or my source of income, but they still came after me with their eyes on the prize.”
Amid speculation that she rejected a plea deal to avoid jail time, the trial is expected to extend until December 14. Regardless of the trial’s outcome, Shakira faces separate charges related to failing to pay €6.6 million in taxes in 2018.
Having separated from her partner Gerard Piqué last year, Shakira made headlines with a hit “diss” track addressing their breakup. The song garnered significant attention, achieving a YouTube record with 63 million views in 24 hours.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Shakira clinched three Latin Grammy awards last week, including the prestigious Best Song category, at a ceremony held in Seville. The artist remains resilient, asserting her identity as both an artist and, above all, a woman.
The music artist now joins a long list of celebrities who have been taken to Spanish courts for tax evasion.
