Judge believes there is “sufficient evidence” to prosecute Shakira for tax fraud in Spain

Nearly three years after Shakira was accused of defrauding the Spanish state of 14.5 million euros, the singer found herself in the dock. A judge at the Barcelona Court of Inquiry concluded on Wednesday that there was “sufficient evidence” for the artist to bring her to trial for tax fraud.

According to the Spanish news agency Efe, which had access to legal documents, the judge considers that although the theses of the government agency for tax administration in Spain and the defense are “completely opposing” as to the tax interpretation to be applied, there is “sufficient evidence of a crime.” To continue the case against Shakira and resolve it in court.

The “My Hips Don’t Lie” singer was accused of defrauding the Spanish state of €14.5 million between 2012 and 2014. The subject of the dispute is the non-payment of rent and property taxes.

However, Shakira’s defense claims that between the concerts and the schedule associated with the artistic environment, the singer spent less than 184 days in the country, so she had no obligation to pay taxes because she was not considered a resident.

In January 2020, two inspectors from the Spanish Tax Agency announced that the artist had not paid her income tax between 2012 and 2014.

In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against the singer and her tax advisor in the United States. Both were charged with six crimes against the Spanish agency for allegedly devising a “plan” to pay neither income tax nor property tax, using a network of 14 companies in tax havens that received what Shakira earned from your “professional activity”.