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Shakira, known for hits like “Hips Don’t Lie,” is facing a second round of tax evasion charges, almost a year after the first accusations.
Her recent years have been tough. In June 2022, she and long-time partner Gerard Piqué split after 12 years, leading to a messy breakup with cheating allegations, diss tracks, and a custody battle over their two children. On top of this, Shakira had a major tax issue.
In 2018, she was accused of six counts of tax fraud for not paying around 14.5 million euros or 13.9 million dollars during her 2012 to 2014 tax season. Authorities claimed she falsely said she was living in the Bahamas, while she was actually in Spain. Shakira insists on her innocence, saying in a 2022 interview, “I am confident that I have enough proof to support my case and that justice will prevail in my favor.” Pleading not guilty has led to a trial scheduled for November, potentially resulting in an eight-year sentence and a substantial fine. Now, she faces a fresh set of charges.
In September 2023, Spanish prosecutors accused Shakira of again not paying taxes, this time around 6.7 million euros (7.1 million dollars) for 2018. They allege she used an offshore company in a tax haven to avoid payment. Shakira has been informed of the charges but has not yet released an official statement.
When she faced the first tax fraud allegations in 2018, Shakira maintained her innocence, stating, “The Spanish tax authorities saw that I was dating a Spanish citizen and started to salivate. It’s clear they wanted to go after that money no matter what.” It’s uncertain how she will handle this second round of charges, but it’s evident she’s prepared to fight if she believes she’s not at fault. Time will tell whether she’ll need to pay and potentially face prison time.