Shakira Says She Settled $15M Spanish Tax Case to Protect Her Kids, Not Because She Was Guilty
Colombian pop star Shakira has opened up about her decision to settle a $15 million tax case with Spanish authorities, emphasizing that her actions were motivated by her desire to protect her children, not because of guilt.
The singer avoided a potential prison sentence in 2023 by agreeing to pay a $7.5 million fine in her tax fraud case. In a recent letter published in the Spanish newspaper *El Mundo*, Shakira reiterated her innocence, accusing Spanish authorities of unfairly targeting her to bolster their reputation. She explained that her settlement was for the sake of her sons, Milan, 11, and Sasha, 9.
“I want to leave my children with the legacy of a woman who spoke calmly and on her own terms, not under pressure,” Shakira wrote. “They need to know that my decisions were made to protect them, not out of cowardice or guilt.”
Shakira was first accused of tax fraud in 2018, with claims that she owed nearly $16 million in unpaid taxes for the years 2012 to 2014. Authorities alleged that Shakira resided in Spain during that period, a claim she has consistently denied.
In her letter, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer described 2023 as an especially difficult year, with intense media scrutiny over her trial and her highly publicized breakup with former partner Gerard Piqué. She expressed frustration that the state seemed more interested in publicly shaming her than hearing her side of the story.
“The most frustrating thing was a state institution more interested in publicly burning me at the stake than in listening to my reasons,” she wrote. “Now, I think it’s time to hit back.”
Shakira accused tax authorities of fabricating a “contrived story” to create false obligations, claiming their actions were part of an effort to rebuild credibility by intimidating high-profile figures.
Reflecting on her relationship with Piqué, Shakira noted that she made efforts to spend time in Spain starting in 2011 to support their relationship. However, she insisted that her time in the country was limited due to her international career, making her ineligible to be considered a tax resident. In 2015, when she chose to officially live in Spain, she claims the tax authorities immediately tried to charge her for the previous 10 years.
“What seemed like a polite way to formalize my situation turned into a trap,” she said, explaining that she only spent 73 days in Spain in 2011, far below the 183-day requirement to be classified as a tax resident.
Shakira affirmed that she has always fulfilled her tax obligations and noted that other investigations, including those by the IRS, found no issues. She accused the Spanish authorities of seeking “hunting trophies” to regain credibility by targeting public figures and threatening their families’ peace of mind.
“They wanted to make the public believe I didn’t pay my taxes, when the truth is I paid much more than I should have,” she said, referring to the fines she voluntarily paid, which she described as “unjustified.”
Asserting her right to tell her story, Shakira said, “No one can write my story for me. Just like with my songs, I sing to live peacefully again, to turn the page.”
Shakira had faced the possibility of an eight-year prison sentence and a fine exceeding $26 million if found guilty. However, in November 2023, she reached a settlement in court, agreeing to a significant fine and receiving a three-year suspended sentence.