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Shakira Tax Ruling: Court Orders Repayment to Spanish Authorities

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
5 min read
Shakira Tax Ruling: Court Orders Repayment to Spanish Authorities

A Spanish court just ordered the tax authority to pay back Colombian singer Shakira. More than fifty-five million euros—that’s roughly sixty-four million dollars—is involved. It all stems from a long, drawn-out fight over her tax status back in 2011.

The ruling, coming from Spain’s National Audience court, basically found the authorities messed up the collection. They failed to prove that the singer actually spent enough time in Spain that year. The minimum rule? eighteen three days. That’s what you need to be a tax resident and owe personal income tax.

The court looked at the facts. Shakira had only been in Spain for one hundred sixty three days that year. Tax officials simply hadn't established that her real economic life was centered there. So, the agency has to return all those payments. Plus interest.

This isn't just about the original tax amount. The repayment seems to swallow up some serious fines too. We're talking nearly twenty-four million euros in income tax, plus almost twenty-five million in penalties for alleged serious violations. It effectively overturns penalties they had already slapped on her.

Shakira reacted to this decision. She said the court finally "set the record straight." It felt like an end to years of what she called public attacks and reputational damage.

“Every step of the process was leaked, distorted and amplified,” she stated. “Today, that narrative falls apart.” She added that this whole prolonged dispute really took a toll, affecting her health and her family life.

This ruling just adds another layer to the ongoing legal battles. Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll has been dealing with Spanish tax authorities for years now. It ties back to her time in Spain with Gerard Piqué, with whom she has two children.

There were previous accusations, of course. Spanish prosecutors had previously argued she hadn't paid fourteen and a half million euros in taxes between 2012 and 2014. They claimed she lived in Spain for more than the required period annually. Back in 2023, she settled with the prosecutors. Paid nearly seven point eight million euros to avoid a full trial.

She’s repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. She’s thrown around terms like an “Inquisition trial,” suggesting the authorities were just trying to damage her public image instead of doing a fair look at things.

Spain seems to be really ramping up the scrutiny lately. High-profile figures are being looked at closely. Think about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They’ve also faced tax evasion issues there.

And all this is happening right as Shakira gears up for her massive world tour. A concert residency in Madrid starts in September. It’s a big moment, and now there’s this legal noise swirling around it.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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