The Spanish court sided with Shakira and overturned the tax authority's decision, which demanded over €55 million from the singer in a case of unpaid taxes for 2011. The court concluded that the authorities failed to prove the artist's tax residency in Spain during that period.
A court in Spain has overturned a decision by the tax authority, which demanded over €55 million in unpaid taxes from Colombian singer Shakira (Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) for the year 2011. This was reported by the El Pais portal, citing the court's ruling.
"The National Court of Spain upheld Shakira's appeal against the ruling of the tax agency and the Central Administrative Economic Court regarding income tax and property tax for 2011. The court annulled the tax assessments and fines, with the amount in dispute exceeding €55 million," the publication quotes the court's decision.
The court found that the tax authority failed to prove that the star's center of economic and family ties was located in Spain in 2011. Moreover, the court emphasized that this ruling pertains specifically to that period — only the year 2011.
It was clarified that the tax authority could not prove that Shakira spent 183 days in Spain that year to be recognized as a tax resident. According to the court's findings, Shakira spent only 163 days in Spain in 2011.
This is just one of many tax disputes the singer has had with Spain, some of which are still ongoing.
In the editorial's opinion, this ruling represents an important victory for Shakira in her protracted confrontation with the Spanish tax authorities. However, the numerous financial disputes the singer has with the Spanish authorities are far from over, and the case continues to be one of the most high-profile tax conflicts in the world of show business.
