Colombian pop star Shakira is facing a second round of tax evasion charges from the Spanish government. This time, prosecutors claim that in 2018, she defrauded the state of €6.7 million ($7.1 million, £5.8 million). This alleged tax evasion occurred because Shakira reportedly did not declare substantial earnings, including advance payments related to her El Dorado World Tour, among other sources of income.
The Spanish authorities initiated this second investigation in July 2023, but the details were only made public recently. While Shakira is said to be aware of these new charges, her legal team in Miami, where she currently resides, has not been officially notified. Instead, they are currently focused on preparing for the trial related to alleged tax offenses from 2012 to 2014, scheduled to begin on November 20.
The basis of the new charges lies in the fact that in 2018, Shakira was living in Barcelona with her partner, football star Gerard Pique. Consequently, she was obligated to declare and pay taxes on all her international income in Spain. The prosecution alleges that instead of complying with this requirement, Shakira routed her earnings through companies located in countries known for low taxation and financial secrecy.
Shakira is set to face trial in Barcelona this November, facing six separate accusations of tax crimes. However, she has consistently denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence in her ability to provide sufficient evidence in her defense. In a September interview with the Spanish edition of Elle magazine, she stated, “I am confident that I have enough proof to support my case and that justice will prevail in my favor.”
