Colombian music star Shakira has secured a major legal victory after a Spanish court ordered tax authorities to refund her more than €55 million previously collected over a disputed 2011 tax assessment.
The ruling, issued by Spain’s National Audience, found that authorities failed to prove the singer met the legal requirement of spending more than 183 days in Spain during the 2011 tax year, the threshold used to determine tax residency.
According to the court, Shakira spent 163 days in Spain that year, meaning she did not qualify as a Spanish tax resident at the time.
The decision also stated that tax officials did not establish that the singer’s primary economic interests were based in Spain during the period in question.
As a result, the court ordered Spain’s tax agency to refund all payments made by the singer, including income tax, penalties, and accrued interest, effectively cancelling earlier financial sanctions.
The repayment is estimated at over €55 million and includes approximately €24 million in income tax, nearly €25 million in fines, and additional interest charges.
In a statement following the ruling, Shakira said she felt vindicated after what she described as years of reputational damage and personal stress linked to the investigation.
She also criticised the handling of the case, claiming her name and public image were unfairly used during the legal process.
“Every step of the process was leaked, distorted, and amplified,” she said, adding that the outcome had finally corrected the public narrative surrounding the dispute.
The ruling comes after years of tax-related legal battles between the singer and Spanish authorities, including separate settlements over alleged irregularities during later tax years.
Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, previously lived in Spain during her relationship with former FC Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué. The couple, who share two children, separated in 2022.
She has since relocated to Miami, United States, where she continues her global music career and international touring schedule.
