A Spanish court has ordered a tax refund of more than €55 million to Shakira, overturning a long-running dispute over whether the Colombian singer was a tax resident in Spain in 2011.
According to Channels Television, citing AFP, Spain’s National Audience ruled that tax authorities failed to prove the singer spent the minimum 183 days required in the country that year to be considered a resident for tax purposes. The court said evidence showed she spent only 163 days in Spain in 2011.
The ruling means Spain’s tax agency must return all money paid by the artist in relation to that tax year, including around €24 million in personal income tax, almost €25 million in penalties and additional legal interest. The repayment takes the total refund above €55 million.
Shakira said she welcomed the judgment, saying the court had corrected the record after years of public scrutiny. She accused authorities of leaking details of the case and damaging her reputation during the investigation.
The singer, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, said the legal battle had affected her health and family. She added that the decision brought an end to a narrative she believed had been used to make an example of her.
The case centres on Spanish tax claims linked to the period before she officially moved her tax residence from the Bahamas to Spain. Shakira has consistently maintained that she only established permanent residence in Barcelona at the end of 2014.
The 49-year-old previously reached a separate settlement in 2023 over tax allegations covering 2012 to 2014. She agreed to pay nearly €7.8 million to avoid trial in that case.
Spanish authorities have pursued several high-profile tax cases in recent years, including against football stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both were convicted of tax evasion but avoided prison under Spanish law for first-time offenders.
Shakira is due to complete her “Women Don’t Cry Anymore” world tour later this year with a concert residency in Madrid starting in September. She recently made headlines after collaborating with Burna Boy on the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
