Shakira settled 5-year tax battle for $15M to 'protect kids'
What's the story
Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira has revealed that her decision to settle a €13.4M ($15M) tax fraud case with the Spanish government was primarily motivated by her desire to "protect" her children.
In a letter published in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Thursday, she wrote, "I need them to know that I made the decisions I made to protect them [kids], to be by their side and get on with my life."
Relationship details
'I wanted my relationship with Gerard Pique to prosper'
Shakira—who was in a relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Pique since 2011—moved to Spain in 2015.
The couple shares two sons: Milan and Sasha.
In her letter, she explained that her trips to Spain weren't due to a "vocation to stay" but rather an effort to make her relationship with Pique work.
She also clarified that she only spent 73 days in Spain in 2011—less than the minimum of 183 days required by the Spanish government for tax residency.
Accusations
Shakira accused Spanish government of fabricating tax fraud story
The Grammy-winning artist also accused the Spanish government of creating a narrative that she had defrauded them.
She claimed that upon officially relocating to Spain in 2015, the tax office attempted to charge her for a decade's worth of taxes.
Despite these allegations, Shakira insisted that she has "always fulfilled" her tax obligations and was even cleared when the IRS investigated her.
Overpayment claims
Shakira claimed to have paid 'much more' than she should've
Further, in her letter, Shakira asserted that she ended up paying "much more" than she should have due to agreeing to several "unjustified" fines.
She concluded her essay by stating, "No one can write my story for me. Just like with my songs, I sing to live peacefully again, to turn the page."
This sentiment echoes her statement when she originally reached the November 2023 deal with Spain.
Trial details
Shakira's trial and settlement details
The tax fraud trial against Shakira began in November 2023 in Barcelona.
On the first day of her trial, she agreed to pay €6.7M ($7.6M) to the Spanish government for allegedly evading €14M ($15.8M) in taxes between 2012 and 2014.
This move allowed her to avoid potential imprisonment, but she maintained her innocence throughout the nearly five-year-long legal battle before this settlement was reached.