Shakira Wins Spanish Tax Case, to receive $64-M Refund

After an eight-year court battle, a Spanish court ordered the country’s treasury to refund nearly $65 million to singer Shakira after ruling that the money had been improperly collected, Jem Aswad reported for Variety.

Colombian singer Shakira won a major legal battle in Spain after a court ruled tax authorities improperly collected millions from her. (Photo: Shakira Facebook)

Spain’s high court acquitted the Colombian singer of tax fraud and ordered the treasury to repay the money, with interest.

In its ruling, the court said tax authorities failed to prove that Shakira had spent at least 183 days in Spain in 2011, the threshold that would have made her a tax resident and liable for personal income tax.

The court instead found that she had spent 163 days in the country during that financial year.

Spain’s tax agency said it would appeal to the Supreme Court of Spain and would make no payment until a final ruling is issued.

The ruling was viewed as a major legal victory for Shakira, whose supporters celebrated the decision.