A Spanish High Court has acquitted Colombian pop superstar Shakira in a major tax fraud case linked to her 2011 finances, ending another chapter in the singer’s long-running legal battle with Spanish authorities.
The court ruled that prosecutors failed to prove Shakira spent enough time in Spain during 2011 to qualify as a legal tax resident under Spanish law. Judges said authorities were only able to confirm she spent 163 days in the country — below the required 183-day threshold.
As part of the ruling, Spain’s government was ordered to return more than €60 million (around $70 million) in fines and interest previously imposed on the singer.
In a statement shared through her legal team, Shakira said there was “never any fraud” and described the case as an exhausting eight-year ordeal that damaged her reputation and affected her family.
Spanish authorities had argued that the singer’s relationship with former Barcelona football star Gerard Piqué and her activities in Spain made her liable for taxes in the country. However, the court rejected those arguments in the 2011 case.
The ruling does not affect a separate 2023 agreement in which Shakira accepted a fine to settle another tax dispute covering the years 2012 to 2014.