MADRID: Colombian pop star Shakira accused Spain’s tax office of confiscating all the income she earned when she lived there, comparing the institution to “the Inquisition” in a letter published Wednesday in the Spanish daily El Mundo.
The singer’s remarks come after settling a high-profile tax fraud case in Spain and amidst ongoing scrutiny over her financial dealings during her time living in the country.
In her letter, Shakira alleged that the Spanish tax office had effectively confiscated all the income she earned during her residence in Spain, declaring, “The Spanish state kept more than all my income for those years.” She described her decade in Spain as financially disastrous, not due to a lack of work but because of the tax dispute.
Shakira, known for hits like “Hips Don’t Lie,” reached a settlement in November 2023 to avoid a trial in Barcelona. The case involved allegations that she defrauded Spanish tax authorities of 14.5 million euros ($16 million) earned between 2012 and 2014.
As part of the settlement, she admitted to the charges and agreed to pay a fine of nearly 7.8 million euros, thereby avoiding prison time. At the time, she stated that the decision was made “with the best interest of my kids at heart”.
In May 2024, a Spanish court ended a separate investigation into alleged tax fraud related to Shakira’s 2018 income tax return, clearing her of further legal issues in Spain. The singer now resides in Miami with her two sons following her separation from former partner Gerard Piqué, the football star who played for Barcelona during their relationship.
In her open letter, Shakira expressed frustration with the Spanish tax office’s approach, alleging that they were more interested in public shaming than resolving her case. “You don’t solve things by burning people at the stake like in an Inquisition trial,” she wrote. She reiterated her position that she did not meet the 183-day residency requirement that would classify her as a taxable resident of Spain during the years in question.
The Spanish tax authorities has in recent years cracked down on celebrities such as Argentine football star Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, for unpaid taxes. Both players were convicted of evasion and received prison sentences that were waived for first-time offenders.
