Spanish authorities have officially charged renowned pop star Shakira with alleged tax evasion amounting to €6.7mn ($7.1mn) related to her income in 2018. This marks the second set of tax evasion charges against the Colombian singer in Spain, with the first case already scheduled for trial in Barcelona this November.
The prosecution asserts that Shakira employed an offshore company based in a tax haven to evade paying the required taxes on her income for the year 2018. The Barcelona prosecutors released an official statement detailing the charges.
Shakira, who currently resides in Miami, Florida, has been informed of the latest charges by Spanish authorities. These accusations come on top of a previous case where she is alleged to have evaded €14.5mn ($15.4mn) in taxes for the period between 2012 and 2014.
In the ongoing case related to 2012-2014, prosecutors argue that Shakira spent a significant portion of that time in Spain, and as a result, she should have fulfilled her tax obligations in the country, regardless of her official residence being in the Bahamas.
Spanish tax authorities initiated a new case against Shakira in July of the previous year. After thoroughly examining the evidence gathered over the past two months, prosecutors have opted to bring formal charges against the singer. However, no specific trial date has been set as of yet.
Shakira's previous public relations firm, Llorente y Cuenca, refrained from making an immediate comment on the latest developments. In July of the previous year, the firm had stated that the artist consistently followed the law and received guidance from her financial advisors.
Shakira, born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has maintained strong ties to Spain ever since her relationship with retired soccer player Gerard Pique. The couple, who share two children, resided in Barcelona together for over a decade until their separation in 2022.
In recent years, Spain has aggressively pursued legal action against high-profile individuals, including soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, for alleged tax evasion. While these players were found guilty, they managed to avoid imprisonment due to a provision that permits judges to waive sentences of less than two years for first-time offenders. Shakira's legal situation may similarly unfold as her legal battles continue in Spanish courts.
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