Story perspectives

Spain Court Acquits Shakira, Overturns €55 M Fine

5/18/2026

Summary

Shakira Acquitted

Spain’s High Court acquitted Shakira of 2011 tax fraud on May 18 2026, overturning the €55 million fine and ordering repayment of €60 million plus interest.
Judges said authorities failed to prove that Shakira spent the required 183 days in Spain in 2011.
The ruling applies only to the 2011 tax year and does not affect later years.
Spain’s tax agency will appeal to the Supreme Court and will hold payments pending the final outcome.

Summary

Tax Agency Targets

A Spanish High Court acquitted the taxpayer for the 2011 tax year.
The tax agency continues targeting athletes, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who avoided prison under a two-year waiver.
Shakira was named in the 2017 Paradise Papers and paid 7.3 million euros in 2023 for a 14.5 million-euro liability covering 2012-2014.
Officials say the crackdown seeks compliance, but critics argue that focusing on famous people distracts from systemic tax problems.

Summary

Shakira Accepts

The court’s decision, reached in mid-April 2026, was disclosed on May 18 2026.
Shakira said she accepted guilt in the 2023 settlement to protect her family.
Former FC Barcelona star Gerard Piqué was cleared of tax wrongdoing by Spain’s Supreme Court in 2021.
Lawyer José Luis Prada said the case revealed a lack of rigor in the tax authority.

History

Historical Context

The April 2016 Panama Papers leak exposed dozens of Spanish offshore firms, prompting a nationwide crackdown on tax evasion. Within weeks, the Spanish Supreme Court sentenced Lionel Messi and his father to suspended 21-month terms and ordered a €1.7 million fine for undisclosed image-right income. The case illustrated the broader push against celebrity tax avoidance sparked by the leak.

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Shakira Acquitted

Spain’s High Court acquitted Shakira of 2011 tax fraud on May 18 2026, overturning the €55 million fine and ordering repayment of €60 million plus interest.
Judges said authorities failed to prove that Shakira spent the required 183 days in Spain in 2011.
The ruling applies only to the 2011 tax year and does not affect later years.
Spain’s tax agency will appeal to the Supreme Court and will hold payments pending the final outcome.

1 / 4