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Spain’s National High Court has ordered the Spanish Tax Agency to refund Colombian singer Shakira about $64 million (€60 million) after ruling that authorities failed to prove she was a Spanish tax resident in 2011. The court found that Shakira spent 163 days in Spain that year, below the 183-day threshold required to establish personal income tax residency, and determined that Spain was not proven to be the primary base of her global business operations at the time. Judges also rejected efforts by tax authorities to link her fiscal residency to her relationship with then–professional footballer Gerard Piqué, ruling that the partnership did not constitute a legal marriage and could not serve as definitive proof of permanent residence. The refund amount includes a return of previously paid taxes as well as related fines and accumulated interest. Spain’s judiciary based its ruling on travel records and documentation submitted by Shakira’s defense, including an itinerary showing she performed 120 concerts worldwide in 2011, accounting for extended periods outside Spanish territory. In a public statement after the decision, Shakira described the eight-year legal battle as a time of targeting and orchestrated campaigns that she said were aimed at damaging her public reputation, insisting there was never any fraud and that authorities failed to prove otherwise. She said she hopes the decision helps set a precedent for citizens facing similar disputes with the treasury and dedicated the victory to people experiencing comparable financial and emotional strain. The Spanish Tax Agency has notified the court that it intends to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, meaning no refund will be paid until a final, non-appealable judgment is issued. The case is separate from her earlier settlement in 2023 over alleged unpaid taxes for 2012–2014 and from a 2018 tax investigation that prosecutors closed in May 2024 for lack of evidence.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.