Spanish court acquits Shakira of 2011 tax fraud, orders refund

A Spanish high court has acquitted Colombian pop star Shakira of tax fraud for the 2011 fiscal year and ordered the national treasury to refund her more than 60 million euros in fines and back taxes, plus interest and legal fees. The ruling concludes an eight-year legal battle over whether the singer was a tax resident of Spain during that period.

The National Court ruled that tax authorities failed to prove Shakira spent more than 183 days in Spain in 2011, the legal threshold to be considered a tax resident. The court found she was present for 163 days and determined Spain was not the center of her economic interests at that time, despite her relationship with former FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué. The court stated the fines were unlawful as they were based on an unproven assumption of tax residency.

In a statement, Shakira celebrated the verdict while criticizing the tax agency's conduct. She said she endured years of public targeting and reputational damage that affected her health and family. She expressed hope the ruling would set a precedent for ordinary taxpayers who feel abused by a system that presumes guilt. Her lawyer, José Luis Prada, described the lengthy...