The Colombian singer Shakira (45) apparently wants a trial in Spain. According to media reports, she has decided to go to court rather than accept an out-of-court settlement deal that Spanish prosecutors say she was offered. The case involves allegations that the musician in Spain is said to have evaded 14.5 million euros in taxes.
Shakira is "innocent" and has decided to "put the matter in the hands of the law," Spanish media outlets like Marca quoted a statement from the pop star's team as saying. The allegations against the singer date back to 2018. At that time, the authorities accused her of not paying 14.5 million euros in taxes on income from the years 2012 to 2014. According to "El Pais", she faces a fine and, in the worst case, jail time if she is found guilty of tax evasion. What kind of deal Shakira was offered or when the process could start is apparently not yet known.
According to media reports, Shakira's team said the singer had deposited the amount she allegedly owed with the Spanish tax authorities and had no outstanding tax debts. Now it has to be clarified where the 45-year-old mainly lived between 2012 and 2014. Investigators claim it was in Spain, although Shakira's official residence at the time was in the Bahamas. The singer denies that, only later did she mainly live in Barcelona.
Spanish tax law states that anyone staying in Spain for at least six months and a day - or 183 days - in any given year must pay taxes there, a Madrid tax adviser told CNN.
Shakira has two children with Barcelona star Gerard Piqué (35). At the beginning of 2013 their first son Milan was born, the second son Sasha followed at the beginning of 2015. The artist and the soccer professional ended their relationship at the beginning of June 2022 after more than ten years together.
