Shakira Acquitted in Spanish Tax Fraud Case, Entitled to Nearly $65 Million Refund

Shakira has been cleared of tax fraud charges in Spain, with the court ruling that the nation's tax authorities improperly collected nearly $65 million from the artist.

The 49-year-old musician's nearly eight-year legal ordeal has reached a verdict: the court determined that tax officials failed to establish she had spent the required 183 days in Spain during 2011 to qualify as a resident liable for personal income tax. Court documents show she was actually in the country for 163 days that year.

The refund comprises approximately €24 million in income tax and roughly €25 million in fines related to the alleged violation.

In remarks to the BBC following the decision, Shakira reflected on her lengthy battle. "The court has finally set the record straight," she stated, describing the preceding years as marked by "brutal public targeting, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately impacted my health and my family's well-being."

She emphasized her consistent position throughout the proceedings: "There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn't true. Yet, for nearly a decade, I was treated as guilty. Every step of the process was leaked, distorted, and amplified, using my name and public image to send a threatening message to the rest of the taxpayers."

Concluding her statement, Shakira noted that "that narrative crumbles, and it does so with the full force of a court ruling." She dedicated her victory to "thousands of ordinary citizens" facing similar circumstances, acknowledging the toll such cases take—"at the cost of economic and emotional ruin."

Spain's tax agency has signaled its intention to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. Officials indicated they will withhold payment pending a final court decision.

The timing coincides with Shakira's recent release of a new World Cup anthem for 2026.