Shakira’s Tax Case Explained

A Spanish prosecutor is seeking an eight-year prison sentence and a fine of more than $23.5 million for Shakira over a tax fraud case.

So, how did we get here? The time period in question is 2012–2014, when Shakira has been accused of not paying $15 million in taxes. Shakira, in turn, is saying that she didn’t live in Spain.

According to Reuters and The AP, the prosecutor is arguing that Shakira spent more than half of her time in Spain over these two years — and that the house she bought in Barcelona in 2012 became the family home for Shakira, Gerard Pique, and their son born in 2013.

Meanwhile, Shakira’s team says that the singer doesn’t have any debts with the Spanish tax office — and even paid the 17.2 million euros that she owed.

This takes us to this week, when Shakira rejected a settlement offer from the prosecutor’s office on Wednesday. This means that the case will go to trial — leading to documents showing the prosecutor’s intent for a fine and prison sentence if Shakira is found guilty to hit headlines on Friday.

Shakira’s representatives subsequently said in a statement that she “has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer.”