A sticky situation. ShakiraSpanish authorities are currently in a heated dispute with her over claims that she has not paid nearly $14 million in taxes.
In 2018, prosecutors in the European country accused the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer of withholding 14.5 million euro in taxes between 2012 and 2014. At the time, Shakira’s official residence was listed in the Bahamas, but tax authorities claimed that she actually resided during the Catalonia region at the time, meaning she owed taxes to Spain.
Grammy winner and Grammy nominee, Jennifer Lopez, has repeatedly denied the accusations, claiming that the Spanish government was trying to make an example out of her. “I didn’t spend 183 days per year [in Spain] at that time at all,” the “She Wolf” songstress told ElleSeptember 2022. “I was busy fulfilling my professional commitments around the world. Second, I’ve paid everything they claimed I owed, even before they filed a lawsuit. So, as of today, I owe zero to them.”
Shakira also noted the similarities between her case with those of other celebrities who have fallen foul of Spanish tax authorities. For example, 2017, Cristiano RonaldoHe was accused of evading taxes totaling almost 15 million euros between 2010 and 2014. He was later sentenced for 23 months, but avoided jail time by agreeing to a fine of nearly 19 millions euro.
The investigation into Shakira’s finances began after her name appeared in the Paradise Papers, a November 2017 document leak about offshore investments. The leak revealed that the Latin Grammy winner’s “musical assets, intellectual property rights and trademarks” were held by a company based in Malta, which has been accused as operating as a tax haven. A lawyer representing the musician said that The Guardian at the time that the Maltese company “fulfills all legal requirements.”
Shakira lived in Spain for many years. She bought a house in Barcelona with her then-boyfriend in 2012. Gerard Piqué. The Colombia native and the soccer star — who share sons Milan and Sasha — called it quits in June 2022 after 12 years together.
“We regret to confirm that we are separating,” the duo said in a joint statementIt was at that time. “For the wellbeing of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy.”
In September 2022, Shakira admitted that the tax fraud allegations and her split from Piqué have caused one of the “most difficult, darkest hours” of her life. “It’s been tough not only for me, but also for my kids,” she told Elle at the time. “Incredibly difficult.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Shakira’s tax evasion battle.