The Spanish tax agency has suffered a significant legal defeat after a national high court ordered the return of €55 million—including interest—to singer Shakira.
The court determined that the government improperly collected the funds, as officials failed to prove that the artist met the 183-day residency threshold required to be taxed as a Spanish resident during the 2011 fiscal year. The court found that Shakira spent only 163 days in the country, falling well short of the legal requirement.
This ruling invalidates the fines previously imposed by a tax agency that had aggressively pursued the singer for years.
While Shakira has characterized the ordeal as a targeted campaign against her reputation, the tax agency remains defiant, stating it intends to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court and will withhold payment until a final verdict is reached.
This case is separate from a previous settlement where the singer paid a €7.5 million fine to resolve other tax-related charges, a move she described as a pragmatic decision to protect her family from a protracted legal battle.
The latest court victory highlights the burden of proof that government agencies must meet before seizing private assets, even when they attempt to frame their actions as necessary enforcement.
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