Colombian singer Shakira resolved her tax evasion action with Spanish authorities in an unexpected move. The Grammy-winning artist, whose hips don’t lie but her financial records apparently did, managed to sidestep a trial that was scheduled to kick off on Monday.
The settlement, confirmed by the Barcelona prosecutor’s office, revealed that Shakira not only admitted to the charges against her but also agreed to cough up a substantial sum. A grand total of €17.5 million (that’s roughly $19 million) slipped from her pockets, covering the taxes owed plus interest. As if that weren’t enough, there was an additional fine of €7.3 million (or a cool $8 million) thrown into the mix.
Avoiding the specter of an eight-year prison sentence, Shakira opted to take the fines route, agreeing to shell out approximately $437 a day for a hypothetical three-year sentence. Crunching the numbers, that tallies up to just over $470,000 – a hefty price to pay for a musical miscalculation.
The courtroom drama, or lack thereof, unfolded in a brisk 10-minute session where the judge dropped the bombshell of a last-minute agreement. Shakira, when asked about the deal, gave a resounding “yes,” sealing the fate of this tax saga.
A statement from the songstress’s communication team clarified that the settlement marked the end of a tax dispute spanning the years 2012 to 2014. Shakira, in her own words, expressed her initial readiness to face trial and defend her innocence. However, a poignant realization prompted a change of heart.
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“I had two options: keep fighting until the end, taking my peace of mind and that of my children, stop making songs, albums and tours, without being able to enjoy my career and the things I like; or agree, close and leave this chapter of my life behind, looking forward (to the future),” she revealed.
The Spanish prosecutors had accused Shakira of neglecting to pay personal income and wealth tax during the mentioned three-year period, with the outstanding amount hovering around $15.6 million. A 2021 ruling asserted that she had spent more than 200 days in Spain each year, making her liable to pay taxes according to the country’s tax code.
Shakira, however, vehemently disputed these claims in a 2022 interview with Elle magazine, labeling the accusations as “false.” She asserted, “First of all, I didn’t spend 183 days per year at that time at all. I was busy fulfilling my professional commitments around the world. Second, I’ve paid everything they claimed I owed, even before they filed a lawsuit. So as of today, I owe zero to them.”
The singer’s journey through the legal labyrinth seems to have concluded, leaving behind a trail of financial amends and a significant dent in her bank account. As the curtain falls on the Shakira tax fraud case, one can’t help but wonder about the toll such legal battles take on the lives of our beloved celebrities. It’s a reminder that even the most enchanting melodies can have an unexpected twist in their composition.
