After several legal processes faced in Spain, the Colombian singer Shakira obtained a favorable resolution, after a Spanish court urged the Treasury to return a million-dollar figure to her due to allegations of tax fraud in 2011.
The case began eight years ago, when the tax entity indicated that the singer was a tax resident of Spain in 2011, but that she would not have declared taxes in that period. Despite the defense’s allegations, international media highlight that the Treasury issued a financial penalty that must now be returned.
After the court determined that the Spanish Treasury charged an improper sum, media such as the BBC highlight that this entity must return around 60 million euros (more than US$69 million) to the Colombian singer.
Through a statement, the interpreter of Eyes Like This highlighted the ruling: “There was never fraud,” he stated, while explaining that the Administration was never able to prove the opposite in the case, “simply because it was not true,” he added.
The EFE agency highlights that the case arose after the Spanish Tax Agency opened a file considering that Shakira was a tax resident in Spain in 2011, a period in which she embarked on an international tour that took her to 37 countries and 120 concerts.
At that time, the Treasury considered that the interpreter of Dai Dai He had to pay taxes on the profits obtained on that tour, so by not declaring them, he would have committed a crime and was fined.
After several years of litigation, EFE highlights, a Spanish court finally decided to annul the settlements and sanctions applied regarding income and wealth taxes for 2011, and urged the refund of a million-dollar amount.
Although, in the ruling against Shakira, the tax entity highlighted that, by having a partner and family in Spain, she spent more time in the country, which is why she was considered a tax resident, the defense maintained that she did not remain in the territory for the required time.
Media such as the BBC and EFE highlight that, to be considered a tax resident, the Personal Income Tax law establishes that the individual must spend more than half of the year in Spain, that is, at least 183 days. With the new resolution, the court highlighted that the Treasury could not verify that the interpreter of Single woman stayed more than 163 days in the country.
The agency that represents the artist highlighted that this case would be Shakira’s last pending account with the Spanish tax entity. EFE highlighted that sources close to the Tax Agency indicated that the resolution will be appealed before the Supreme Court of Spain.