Spanish singer and global pop star Shakira has won a major legal victory after a Spanish court ordered tax authorities to refund more than 55 million euros ($64 million) linked to a dispute over her 2011 taxes.
The ruling, issued by Spain’s National Audience court, stated that tax officials failed to prove the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer spent more than 183 days in Spain during 2011. Under Spanish law, individuals who spend over 183 days in the country in a year are considered tax residents and must pay personal income tax there.
According to the court, Shakira spent only 163 days in Spain during the period under review. Judges also found that tax authorities could not prove Spain was the centre of her economic interests at the time.
The decision means Spain’s tax agency must return all amounts previously collected from the singer, including legal interest. The repayment includes around 24 million euros in income tax, nearly 25 million euros in penalties for what officials had described as a “very serious” tax infringement, as well as accrued interest.
In a statement released after the ruling, Shakira said the court had “finally set the record straight” following years of intense public scrutiny.
She accused authorities of subjecting her to “brutal public exposure” and campaigns aimed at damaging her reputation. The singer added that the prolonged legal battle affected both her health and her family’s wellbeing.
“Every step of the process was leaked, distorted, and amplified, using my name and public image to send a threatening message to other taxpayers. Today, that narrative falls apart,” she said.
The ruling marks another chapter in Shakira’s long-running disputes with Spanish tax authorities. The singer has consistently maintained that she only established permanent residence in Barcelona at the end of 2014 and officially transferred her tax residency from the Bahamas to Spain in 2015.
Spanish prosecutors had previously accused her of failing to pay 14.5 million euros in taxes between 2012 and 2014. In 2023, Shakira accepted a settlement deal that allowed her to avoid a trial by paying a fine of nearly 7.8 million euros.
The tax investigation reportedly included reviews of her social media activity, as well as testimony from neighbours and personal associates, including her hairdresser.
Shakira later criticised the investigation, comparing it to an “Inquisition trial” in a public letter published in Spanish newspaper El Mundo in 2024.
The singer, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, was in a long-term relationship with former Gerard Piqué before the couple separated in 2022. She later relocated to Miami with their two sons.
The artist is currently preparing to conclude her successful “Women Don’t Cry Anymore” world tour with a concert residency in Madrid scheduled to begin in September.
Spain has pursued several high-profile tax cases involving celebrities in recent years, including football stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom were convicted of tax evasion and received suspended prison sentences.
