Shakira Acquitted of Tax Evasion Charges, to Receive $64 Million Refund

Following an eight-year legal battle, Colombian pop icon Shakira has been completely acquitted of tax evasion charges after a ruling by Spain’s high court.

According to a report by the BBC, Spanish tax authorities had previously asserted that Shakira resided in Spain for 183 days in 2011—the minimum threshold required to be considered a tax resident—and subsequently collected the tax revenues from the singer.

However, based on the presented evidence, the court ruled that Shakira had spent only 163 days in the country during that fiscal year, which falls 20 days short of the requirement.

Declaring that the tax authorities failed to provide concrete evidence to back their claims, the court ruled the fines imposed on Shakira entirely unlawful.

Consequently, the court ordered the state treasury to refund approximately 765 crore BDT (€55 million / $64 million) to Shakira, covering the seized funds and fines along with accumulated interest.

A Decade of Speculation
Expressing her relief after the prolonged legal saga, Shakira spoke out about the emotional toll of the case.

"For nearly a decade, I have been treated like a criminal," Shakira said. "My name was leveraged to intimidate ordinary taxpayers. There was no tax evasion, and the administration could never prove it because the entire case was fabricated."

She added, "The court has finally brought the truth to light. Over the past eight years, a calculated campaign was run to damage my reputation. I spent many sleepless nights, which took a heavy toll on my health and my family."

The breakthrough comes at a momentous time for the Latin pop star, who has made a highly anticipated return to the global football stage after a 12-year hiatus by performing "Dai Dai," the official theme song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.