Shakira signs a letter in El Mundo defending her innocence

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The Treasury will have to return more than 60 million to Shakira

Shakira has won the battle against the Treasury. The National Court has ruled in favor of the singer in her notorious case of tax fraud, annulling the file that forced her to pay almost 55 million euros. Now, the tax agency will have to return that amount to the Colombian artist with interest included. In total, more than 60 million euros.

In 2011, the Tax Agency considered that Shakira was a tax resident in Spain, forcing her to pay millions of euros, in addition to imposing several financial sanctions for not declaring in Spain. However, the court has concluded that Shakira did not have to pay taxes in Spain.

At the time, the Treasury assured that the artist had a “sentimental relationship” in Spain as she was Gerard Piqué’s partner. However, the agency was never able to prove that Shakira resided in Spain for more than 183 days a year, which is what the law requires for someone to be recognized as a tax resident. Thus, the National Court has ruled in favor of the singer.

It must be remembered that Shakira reached an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office in 2023, admitting that she did not pay 14.5 million euros in taxes in Spain between 2012 and 2014, despite the fact that she had spent more than half of the year in the country. Then, the Colombian was sentenced to three years in prison, but instead agreed to pay a million-dollar fine.

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Simon Müller

Simon Müller is the driving force behind UMusic, embodying a lifelong passion for all things melodious. Born and raised in New York, his love for music took form at an early age and fueled his journey from an avid music enthusiast to the founder of a leading music-centered website. Simon's diverse musical tastes and intrinsic understanding of acoustic elements offer a unique perspective to the UMusic community. Sporting a dedicated commitment to aural enrichment and hearing health, his vision extends beyond just delivering news - he aspires to create a network of informed, appreciative music lovers. Spend a moment in Mueller's company, and you'd find his passion infectious – music isn’t simply his job, it’s his heartbeat.