Shakira Acquitted in Spanish Tax Fraud Case

A Spanish court has acquitted Shakira in a tax fraud case. The court ordered the government to return over 55 million euros, equivalent to $64 million, in fines and interest wrongly imposed on her. This decision was revealed in a court document reviewed on Monday by The Associated Press.

The case stemmed from a tax dispute concerning the year 2011. The Spanish tax authorities failed to prove that the Colombian singer lived in Spain long enough to qualify as a tax resident. According to the Madrid-based court, a person must reside in Spain for over 183 days within a year to be considered a tax resident. Authorities could only show Shakira resided in Spain for 163 days in 2011.

In recent years, Spain has intensified its efforts to hold high-profile individuals accountable for tax payments. This includes well-known soccer players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both were convicted of tax evasion but avoided prison due to a provision allowing judges to waive sentences under two years for first-time offenders.