Renowned global star Shakira is set to face Spanish justice on Monday for a highly anticipated trial involving alleged tax evasion of nearly 14.5 million euros. The Colombian artist, known for hits such as “Waka Waka” and “Hips Don’t Lie,” is being accused of not paying income and wealth taxes in Spain from 2012 to 2014. The prosecution claims that Shakira used a complex network of companies in tax havens to avoid paying taxes in Spain, which she vehemently denies.
The trial, which is scheduled to last until December 14th and will include about 120 witnesses, is expected to shed light on Shakira’s residency status in Spain during the years in question. Her lawyers argue that she only established permanent residency in Barcelona in late 2014 and transferred her tax residence from the Bahamas to Spain in 2015, just before the birth of her second child with ex-footballer Gerard Piqué.
In response to these accusations, Shakira and her legal team have emphasized her compliance with tax obligations across multiple territories where she conducted professional activities. She has reportedly already paid 17.2 million euros to the Spanish tax authorities to resolve the matter, with additional allegations emerging, including a separate tax fraud case in 2018.
The global music icon has been thrust into the spotlight not only for legal battles, but also for her personal life, including her high-profile split from Piqué and a chart-topping collaboration with Argentine artist Bizarrap, which alludes to her “debt to the tax authorities.” Amidst these challenges, Shakira remains unapologetically herself, expressing in an interview her commitment to staying true to her identity as an artist and woman, despite pressures to align with diplomatic expectations.
