Shakira Acquitted, Spain Ordered Refund

Shakira has been acquitted of tax fraud charges in Spain for the 2011 tax year, with a Spanish court ordering the government to refund her over 55 million euros, including interest. The court ruled that Spanish tax authorities failed to prove Shakira spent the required 183 days in Spain to be considered a tax resident that year, despite arguments linking her residency to her relationship with Gerard Piqué. This decision follows an eight-year legal battle, which Shakira described as an 'unacceptable toll' due to a 'lack of rigor in administrative practices'. Spain's tax agency plans to appeal the ruling to the Spain — Supreme Court of Spain. This acquittal is separate from a 2023 case where Shakira reached a settlement with Spanish prosecutors, pleading guilty to not paying 14.5 million euros in income tax between 2012 and 2014 to avoid a trial.