Spain’s national high court ordered the tax agency to return approximately €55 million to the singer, along with accumulated interest, after determining that authorities failed to prove she was officially a tax resident in Spain during 2011.
The case centered around whether Shakira had spent enough time in Spain to qualify as a tax resident under Spanish law. Authorities had argued that the singer lived in the country for at least 183 days during that year, which would have made her liable to pay personal income tax there.
However, the court found that prosecutors did not provide sufficient evidence to support that claim.
According to the ruling, Shakira spent around 163 days in Spain in 2011, falling short of the legal threshold required for residency classification.
As a result, the court dismissed the allegations of tax fraud linked to that period and declared the penalties imposed against her invalid.
The refund reportedly includes nearly €24 million in income tax payments as well as almost €25 million in penalties that Spanish authorities had previously imposed over what they described as serious tax violations.
Reacting to the ruling, the Grammy-winning singer expressed relief after years of legal battles and public scrutiny.
Shakira said the decision finally corrected what she described as years of damage to her reputation and personal wellbeing. She also spoke about the emotional toll the case had on her family and health over the past eight years.
Despite the ruling, Spain’s tax agency has reportedly announced plans to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court, meaning the legal battle may not be fully over yet.
The latest development adds another chapter to Shakira’s complicated history with Spanish tax authorities.
In 2023, the singer reached a settlement in a separate tax fraud case related to the years between 2012 and 2014. Although she maintained her innocence, she agreed to pay millions in fines in order to avoid a lengthy court trial and possible prison sentence.
At the time, prosecutors had pushed for a heavy punishment that included both jail time and additional financial penalties.
Another investigation involving her 2018 tax payments was reportedly dropped in 2024 due to insufficient evidence.
Away from the courtroom, Shakira continues to dominate the entertainment world.
The singer, famous for global hits such as “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Whenever, Wherever,” is currently wrapping up her successful “Women Don’t Cry Anymore” world tour and is expected to begin a residency in Madrid later this year.
She is also set to appear alongside fellow global music stars including Madonna and BTS during the halftime show of the upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup final.
Earlier this month, Shakira once again demonstrated her massive global appeal after attracting millions of fans to a free concert held on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
