Spanish Prosecutors To Dismiss Shakira’s $7 Million Tax Fraud

During a sitting on 8th May 2024, Spanish prosecutors moved to close Shakira’s tax fraud case after months of opening proceedings against the Latin pop star over unpaid tax worth over $7 million.

“The Barcelona provincial prosecutor’s office for financial crimes has requested the closure of proceedings against Shakira,” stated the prosecutor’s office, citing “insufficient evidence.”

Last July, prosecutors accused the Hips Don’t Lie singer of using companies to evade 6.6 million euros in taxes. Her agent told AFP, Shakira had paid 6.6 million euros to clear the debt a month later.

Furthermore, on November 20, the acclaimed Latin superstar settled with the prosecutors at the opening of her trial.

Shakira. Photo credit: Goal

Prosecutors sought an eight-year jail term for the queen of Latin pop, whom they accused of defrauding tax authorities of 14.5 million euros during her time in Spain. The singer denied the accusations, claiming that she only started living in Spain full-time in 2015.

Read Also: Shakira reaches deal to settle Spain tax fraud case

Prosecutors said, by the time the case came to trial, she had already paid 17.45 million euros to settle her outstanding tax debt. On the day it opened, the trial concluded after she agreed to pay a fine of nearly 7.8 million euros to settle the case.

She explained she had settled “with the best interest of my kids at heart” because she needed “to move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years”

Shakira’s not the only celebrity that has faced such tax charges from the Spanish authorities. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and even Shakira’s ex-boyfriend Gerard Pique have been hunted down for unpaid taxes.