Shakira Settles Tax Fraud Case in Spain
Shakira settled her tax fraud case with the Spanish government on Monday (November 20). Per Deadline, the singer-songwriter, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, agreed to pay millions in fines. Shakira will receive a suspended three-year sentence and pay a fine of 7.3 million euros ($8 million). In addition, she will pay another fine of 432,000 euros ($472,000) in exchange for her sentence waived.
As we previously reported, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer failed to pay $15.8 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014. In July 2022, her publicists in London said in a statement that Shakira “has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer.” The publicists accused the Spanish Tax Agency of violating her rights. Shakira’s Spanish public relations team previously claimed that the artist deposited the amount she is said to owe, including 3 million euros in interest. Prosecutors in Barcelona have alleged that the Grammy winner spent more than half of each year between 2012 and 2014 in Spain and should have paid taxes there. The performer alleged that she spent most of her time in her primary residence, the Bahamas.
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The settlement reached today is somewhat of a victory for the singer, as prosecutors wanted her to pay $24 million and serve eight years and two months in prison if she was initially convicted. Per gossip website TMZ, Shakira seemed to be in a good mood when she entered the courthouse, blowing kisses to her fans. Shakira, 46, said in a statement it was “to spare my children seeing their mother sacrifice her well-being.” She added, “I admire tremendously those who have fought these injustices to the end, but for me, today, winning is getting my time back for my kids and my career.” She’s still going after the Spanish government for targeting athletes and other high-profile folks. Despite that, the judge said the fine would end the case.
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