May 18, (THEWILL) — A court in Spain has ordered the country’s tax authority to refund more than €55m to Colombian singer Shakira after ruling that she was wrongly fined in a tax dispute.
The national high court also cleared the singer of tax fraud linked to her 2011 tax status.
The court said tax authorities failed to prove that Shakira spent 183 days in Spain that year, which is the legal requirement for tax residency.
It found she spent 163 days, meaning she was not liable to pay the tax.
The ruling means the tax agency must refund the money paid in income tax and fines, plus interest.
Shakira welcomed the decision, saying it corrected years of damage to her reputation. She said she had faced “a brutal public shaming” that affected her health and family life.
“There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true,” she said.
She added that the ruling shows the “narrative crumbles” after years of investigation.
The tax agency is expected to appeal the ruling, meaning no payment will be made until a final decision is reached.
The case relates only to the 2011 tax year and is separate from earlier tax settlements involving the singer.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
