Shakira: Singer settles Spanish tax fraud case with €7.5m fine
Upon her arrival at court, Shakira stated that she needed to overcome the anxiety and psychological burden that have been affecting her for the past few years.
Shakira, a famous singer from Colombia, has come to an agreement with Spanish authorities to resolve a matter regarding tax evasion as her case was set to go to court.
The vocalist was fined €7.5m (£6.5m) as a form of punishment - legal authorities aimed to imprison her for eight years and issue a fine of €23.8m (£20.8m) had she been proven guilty.
In a court in Barcelona, she was accused of committing tax fraud worth €14.5m (£12.7m).
Shakira has consistently maintained her innocence and explained that she resolved the matter "with the utmost concern for the welfare of my children".
She made a long comment, saying her kids "don't want to watch their mother neglect her own health in this battle."
The person who performed declined an agreement presented by the prosecutors and chose to have a trial instead.
The photo credit belongs to Getty Images.
The focus of the matter was regarding the residence of Shakira during the years 2012 to 2014.
"During my professional journey, I have constantly aimed to take the correct actions and be a role model for others," she expressed.
Regrettably, even with all the attempts made, the Spanish tax authorities went after me as they have done with several prominent individuals and famous athletes. This has caused them to feel exhausted, consume a lot of their time, and lose their peace of mind due to the prolonged legal process.
Even though I was driven to prove my innocence in a trial that my legal advisors were sure would have vindicated me, I have chosen to settle this issue keeping in mind what is best for my children. They do not wish to see their mother jeopardize her health and happiness in this tussle.
She mentioned that she wanted to leave behind the strain and strain on her emotions from the previous years and concentrate on what brings her joy, such as her children and the future prospects of her profession.
The main issue being discussed is about Shakira's residency during the period of 2012 to 2014. Prosecutors claimed that she was residing in Spain but declared a different location as her official residence.
As per the laws of Spain, individuals who reside in the country for six months or more are categorized as tax-paying residents. However, according to Shakira, her primary place of living was not in Spain during that period.
During the month of July, a legal document was released stating that she had acquired a property in Barcelona back in 2012, which was later used as a residence for herself and her then-boyfriend, professional football player Gerard Piqué.
According to her legal representatives, she earned the majority of her income from traveling abroad for concerts and was absent from Spain for extended periods, up until the year 2014.
According to Elle magazine, she mentioned that the tax authorities of Spain got interested in her when they learned that she was in a relationship with a Spanish national. She believes that they were eager to seize her money at any cost.
In 2015, Shakira announced that she considers Spain as her official residence in terms of paying taxes. She stated that she has fulfilled her financial responsibilities by paying €17.2 million (£15 million) in taxes without any debts remaining.
In another incident that occurred in 2019, the Spanish national court imposed a financial penalty of €2.1m (£1.8m) on Mr Piqué for failure to pay tax from 2008 to 2010.
In the beginning of June, the pair declared that they had parted ways after being together for 11 years. They share two male offspring who are currently seven and nine years old.
