Shakira acquitted of tax fraud, court orders Spain to hand back $70 million

Spain's High Court has acquitted ‌Colombian pop star Shakira of tax fraud and overturned the 55 million euro ($64 million) fine imposed in 2021 by the Spanish tax agency, according to a court document seen by Reuters on Monday. Acting on an appeal ​by the "Hips Don't Lie" singer, the court ordered the Treasury to reimburse her with ​over 60 million euros ($70 million), including interest, Shakira's defence said.The judge ruled ⁠that authorities had failed to prove that Shakira spent more than 183 days in Spain ​in 2011, as required by Spanish law to be considered a tax resident in the country. ​It does not affect tax years after 2011. At the time, the tax agency had argued that Shakira was linked to Spain through her relationship with former FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique and had her centre of ​activities in the Mediterranean country.But the High Court ruled that the fines were unlawful as ​they were "based on the assumption that the appellant's tax residence was in Spain for the 2011 fiscal year, ‌a ⁠fact which has not been proven".