Spanish authorities accused Shakira of tax evasion in 2018. The Spanish government in 2018 accused Shakira of tax evasion. She has vigorously denied the allegations. However, authorities want her to serve an eight-year sentence.
Shakira was the first to speak out about the allegations in a recent Elle cover storyThese accusations were called “false accusations” by the woman, who asserted that she had already paid what she owed.
Also, read: Shakira refuses a $15 million offer from a prosecutor for tax fraud; she decides to go on trial
When confronted with the court’s argument that she was a resident of Spain for tax purposes between 2011 and 2014, Shakira denied the claim and stated that she “was busy fulfilling my professional commitments around the world,” and affirmed, “as of today, I owe zero to [Spanish government].”
“However, even without evidence to support these fictional claims, as they usually do, they’ve resorted to a salacious press campaign to try to sway people, and apply pressure in the media along with the threat of reputational damage in order to coerce settlement agreements,” she added.
In the middle of her own legal conflict, Shakira pointed out that other celebrities have suffered the same issue and said, “It is well known that the Spanish tax authorities do this often not only with celebrities like me (or [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Neymar, [Xabi]Alonso, among others), it also happens to the taxpayer unjustly. It’s just their style. But I’m confident that I have enough proof to support my case and that justice will prevail in my favor.”
Shakira stated that the Spanish tax authorities have “resorted to a salacious press campaign to try to sway people, and apply pressure in the media along with the threat of reputational damage in order to coerce settlement agreements” without evidence to support the “fictional claims”.
According to The Associated Press, Barcelona prosecutors have claimed that the singer should pay taxes in Spain because she spent more of her annual income in Spain between 2012-2014.
Shakira denied the claims, saying that she spent more than 240 days in Spain during her world tour. She also stated that “there was no way” she could qualify as a resident.
“Even for the next few years, I was traveling the world, working nonstop while pregnant or with Milan as a baby, when my C-section had barely closed. They knew I wasn’t in Spain the required time, that Spain wasn’t my place of work or my source of income, but they still came after me, with their eyes on the prize,” she added.
She said, in the end that it was a matter of principle to go to court.
Also, read: Part-Lebanese superstar Shakira & FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique announce separation; Ask for privacy
