Shakira Acquitted in Spanish Tax Fraud Case

A Spanish court has cleared Shakira of tax fraud charges. The government must return over 55 million euros (approximately $64 million) in incorrectly imposed fines and interest. This decision was revealed in a court document reviewed by The Associated Press.

The Colombian singer has faced tax issues in Spain for several years. This particular case focused on the tax year 2011. Spanish tax authorities failed to prove Shakira met the residency criteria for that year, according to the court in Madrid.

In Spain, tax residency requires spending more than 183 days in the country. Authorities could only demonstrate Shakira lived in Spain for 163 days in 2011.

In recent years, Spain has intensified investigations into tax compliance for high-profile individuals, including soccer players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. These players were found guilty of tax evasion. They avoided prison due to a legal provision that allows judges to dismiss sentences under two years for first-time offenders.