Newsypeople – Shakira’s Tax Fraud Allegations Dropped in Spain, the Colombian pop star, faced allegations of tax fraud in Spain, which have now been dropped. The investigation, initiated in July, accused Shakira of using a network of companies, including some in tax havens, to evade paying €6.6m in taxes for 2018. Despite these allegations, prosecutors requested the case’s dismissal due to a lack of evidence, a request the court granted.
This decision followed Shakira’s settlement of a previous tax fraud case in November, where she agreed to pay a fine of nearly €7.8m to settle her outstanding tax debt from 2012 to 2014. Shakira, who moved to Spain full-time only in 2015, denied the charges, stating she was a resident of the Bahamas during the disputed years. The settlement in November marked the end of a trial that was scheduled to last three weeks and hear from around 120 witnesses.
Shakira’s legal team highlighted that the court’s decision to drop the case signifies that she had not committed any criminal fraud, putting an end to the tax authorities’ smear campaign against her. The remaining administrative case concerns her income from 2011, when she spent less than half the minimum required days in Spain to be considered a tax resident.
Key Takeaways
- The Spanish investigation into Shakira’s alleged tax evasion was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
- Shakira settled a previous tax fraud case in November, agreeing to pay a significant fine to settle her outstanding tax debt from 2012 to 2014.
- Shakira denied the charges, stating she was a resident of the Bahamas during the disputed years and moved to Spain full-time only in 2015.
- An administrative case remains regarding her income from 2011, when she spent less than half the minimum required days in Spain to be considered a tax resident.
Shakira’s Tax Fraud Allegations Dropped in Spain
The Spanish investigation into Shakira’s alleged tax evasion has been officially dropped, marking the end of a legal saga that began with accusations of tax fraud. This development follows a series of events that have seen Shakira facing significant scrutiny over her tax affairs in Spain, where she once resided.
The initial case against Shakira was opened in July, with prosecutors alleging that she had used a network of companies, some located in tax havens, to evade paying the Spanish tax office €6.6 million in 2018. The allegations centered around irregularities in Shakira’s 2018 tax return, suggesting that she had not accurately reported her income or residency status.
Despite these irregularities, the court found that they did not constitute a criminal offense against the tax authorities, as there was no evidence of intent to defraud. This conclusion led to the dropping of the criminal case against Shakira, with prosecutors citing a “lack of evidence” as the reason for their request to dismiss the case. The court subsequently agreed with this assessment, effectively ending Shakira’s legal troubles in Spain related to this matter.
This resolution comes nearly six months after Shakira settled a separate tax fraud case, which had begun in 2018. In that case, prosecutors had charged Shakira with failing to pay €14.5 million in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. Shakira’s defense had argued that she did not reside in Spain during this period, claiming her official residence was in the Bahamas. However, prosecutors contended that she had lived in Spain during those years, leading to the tax evasion charges.
Shakira eventually agreed to pay a fine of nearly €7.8 million to settle this case, concluding the trial on its opening day. This settlement was reached with the best interests of Shakira’s children in mind, allowing her to move past the stress and emotional toll of the legal proceedings and focus on her career.
Shakira’s legal journey in Spain has been marked by significant financial settlements and the resolution of tax disputes. Despite the challenges, she has maintained her commitment to her career and family, emphasizing the importance of resolving these matters to protect her personal well-being and the interests of her children. This latest development in her tax affairs signifies a turning point, allowing Shakira to move forward with her professional endeavors and personal life without the looming threat of further legal action in Spain.
The Specific Irregularities Found In Shakira’s 2018 Tax Return
The specific irregularities found in Shakira’s 2018 tax return, which led to the Spanish investigation into alleged tax evasion, were not explicitly detailed in the provided sources. However, the investigation itself was centered around allegations that Shakira had used a network of companies, some located in tax havens, to evade paying the Spanish tax office €6.6 million in 2018. This suggests that the irregularities might have been related to the reporting of her income through these companies or the manner in which her residency was declared, potentially affecting how her tax obligations were calculated.
The court’s decision to drop the investigation was based on a “lack of evidence” regarding Shakira’s intent to defraud the tax authorities. This indicates that while there were irregularities in her 2018 tax return, the court found that these did not meet the threshold for constituting a criminal offense against the tax authorities. The absence of evidence pointing towards fraudulent intent was crucial in the court’s decision to dismiss the case against Shakira.
It’s important to note that the investigation into Shakira’s tax affairs was part of a broader legal saga that included a separate case involving alleged tax evasion for the years 2012 to 2014. In that case, Shakira faced charges of failing to pay €14.5 million in taxes, which she disputed by arguing that she did not reside in Spain during those years and thus was not liable for Spanish taxes. This case was settled with Shakira agreeing to pay a fine of nearly €7.8 million, concluding the trial on its opening day.
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