Shakira wins €55m tax refund after major court ruling in Spain

Colombian pop star Shakira has won a major legal victory after Spain’s High Court ordered the country’s tax authority to refund €55 million (£48 million / $64 million), ruling that the money was improperly collected in a long-running tax dispute.

According to court findings reported by multiple outlets, including the Spanish High Court judgment, judges concluded that tax authorities failed to prove Shakira spent the required 183 days in Spain in 2011 to be classified as a tax resident. The ruling determined she only spent 163 days in the country that year, falling short of the legal threshold.

The court also acquitted Shakira of tax fraud charges linked to that period and ordered Spain’s Treasury to return the recovered funds, which include approximately €24 million in income tax and nearly €25 million in penalties. However, the Spanish tax agency has indicated it plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, meaning no payment will be made until the case is fully resolved.

In a statement following the ruling, Shakira said she had “finally set the record straight” after years of legal battles and public scrutiny. She described the process as an “eight-year ordeal” that affected her health and family life, while insisting there was “never any fraud.”

The court clarified that the case applies only to the 2011 tax year and does not impact other ongoing or previous investigations involving the singer.

Shakira, known globally for hits such as Hips Don’t Lie, Waka Waka, and Whenever, Wherever, has previously had legal disputes with Spanish tax authorities during her relationship with former footballer Gerard Piqué.

The ruling comes as Shakira prepares for upcoming performances, including tour dates in Madrid and appearances at major international events later this year.