Shakira Wins Tax Dispute in Spain After Eight Years of Legal Proceedings

Shakira has finally won the tax settlement battle that had lasted more than eight years in Spain. Spain’s National Court ruled to acquit the Colombian superstar of tax-fraud charges and ordered the government to refund 60 million euros to Shakira. According to published documents, the judge concluded that during 2011 Shakira did not meet the minimum residence requirements to be taxed in Spain, and therefore Shakira was not obliged to pay taxes in the country. In a statement, Shakira described the court settlement as the end of a long, mentally and emotionally draining struggle. ‘After more than eight years facing brutal public accusations and sleepless nights that badly affected my health and the wellbeing of my family, the National Court has finally vindicated the facts. There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself could not prove otherwise,’ Shakira said, as quoted by Billboard on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The case originated from allegations by Spain’s tax authorities that Shakira spent a substantial amount of time in Spain in 2011, thus being considered a tax resident, and that Spain was the centre of her economic activity in 2011. This related to Shakira’s income during her world tour in 2011, when she undertook a series of 120 concerts in 37 countries. The Spanish tax authorities previously sought to prove that her activities and physical presence in the country were sufficient to make her subject to domestic taxation. However, the public rejected these arguments in full. In its ruling, the judge emphasised that Shakira did not meet the minimum residence period required to tax her in Spain during the investigation period.