Colombian singer Shakira has been acquitted of tax fraud, with a Spanish court ordering the repayment of more than US$70 million, including interest, according to a ruling issued on May 18, 2026.
Court Overturns $70 Million Fine
Spain's High Court overturned the fine imposed by the country's tax agency in 2021, ruling that authorities failed to prove that the "Hips Don't Lie" singer spent more than 183 days in Spain in 2011. Under Spanish law, spending more than 183 days in the country qualifies an individual as a tax resident. The court determined that the tax agency's assumption of Shakira's residency was based on insufficient evidence.
The decision only applies to the 2011 tax year and does not affect subsequent years, Reuters reported.
Shakira's Connection to Spain
In 2011, Spain's tax agency argued that Shakira was linked to the country through her then-relationship with former FC Barcelona player Gerard Pique. However, the High Court ruled that the fines were unlawful because they were "based on the assumption that the appellant's tax residence was in Spain for the 2011 fiscal year, a fact which has not been proven."
The tax agency has announced its intention to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, meaning no payment will be made until a final decision is reached.
Shakira's Response
In a statement published by BBC News, Shakira said the court had "finally set the record straight" after enduring "brutal public targeting, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately impacted my health and my family's well-being" for the past eight years.
"There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn't true," Shakira said. "Yet, for nearly a decade, I was treated as guilty. Every step of the process was leaked, distorted, and amplified, using my name and public image to send a threatening message to the rest of the taxpayers."
She added: "Today, that narrative crumbles, and it does so with the full force of a court ruling."
The "Whenever, Wherever" singer dedicated her victory to the "thousands of ordinary citizens who are abused and crushed every day by a system that presumes them guilty and forces them to prove their innocence while facing financial and emotional ruin."
Previous Tax Deal
Separately, Shakira struck a deal with prosecutors in November 2023 to avoid trial in Barcelona over charges she failed to pay US$16.8 million in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014, according to Reuters. Under the agreement, the singer accepted the charges and was fined half of the amount owed, roughly US$8.5 million.
