Prosecutors in Spain have charged Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll with tax offenses, alleging that the Colombian artist avoided paying income and wealth taxes during 2012, 2013, and 2014. The case centers on money reportedly defrauded from the Tax Agency and on how funds were managed through international entities. The indictment claims that the singer settled part of the tax debt through payments to the Treasury and subsequently made additional payments to cover the related taxes.
Shakira rejects the prosecution’s terms and faces fraud charges against the Treasury
The public accusation asserts that Shakira engaged in tax evasion by failing to declare income and wealth taxes for the years in question. The prosecution argues that a network of companies was used to conceal income and assets from the Spanish Tax Agency, and that the artist portrayed herself as living abroad while she was in Barcelona with footballer Gerard Piqué, with whom she has since separated.
According to the prosecution, Shakira spent the period from 2012 to 2014 largely within Spain. The defense contends that the singer traveled outside Spain for professional reasons, including appearances in the United States for television work. During that period she reportedly resided in Barcelona and Esplugues de Llobregat, locations tied to property held through a company connected to her partner. The defense argues that her residence status should be understood in light of her global entertainment obligations and not as a deliberate attempt to evade tax obligations.
More than 183 days in Spain
The complaint contends that the singer spent the majority of the period in Spain and exceeded the 183-day threshold used to determine habitual residence for tax purposes. The prosecution asserts that this daily presence in the country supports a claim that she should be taxed as a resident here, rather than exclusively abroad. The defense asserts that Shakira has claimed official residence in The Bahamas on multiple occasions, but investigators contend that during the investigation window there was no full-time residence established there and that ownership of property abroad was limited to a share rather than full ownership.
The prosecution emphasizes that Shakira was culturally and legally integrated into Spain during the stated years, arguing that her professional activities and living arrangements created an economic nexus with the country. The plan, as alleged by authorities, involved using corporate entities to represent ownership of income and assets, in a manner that would mask the true source of funds. The allegations reference earnings from professional work conducted in those years and scrutinize how revenues may have been channeled through offshore jurisdictions. The Colombian artist has consistently denied the accusations, maintaining that she complied with tax obligations and that any tax matters were resolved through appropriate channels.
In these proceedings, the parties will examine the relevant financial records, residency indicators, and the timing of international movements to determine whether tax liability was established in Spain. The case highlights the complexities of cross-border income, residency rules, and corporate structures in a global entertainment career. As the legal process unfolds in Spain, the public and international audience will watch how prosecutors and defense teams interpret residency criteria, income declarations, and the use of intermediaries in relation to the Spanish Tax Agency. The outcome will hinge on documentation demonstrating actual residence, the nature of earnings, and the legitimate use of corporate entities in the reported years. The parties may present expert testimony on tax law and international accounting practices to clarify the nuances of this high-profile case. [citation attribution]