(Spanish CNN) — Colombian singer Shakira will be tried in Spain for alleged tax evasion in a case dating from 2018. A judge claims that the artist defrauded the Spanish tax authorities but the singer denies these accusations.
The case dates back to 2018 when the Barcelona public prosecutor’s office filed a complaint against Shakira for six crimes against the public treasury in which she is accused of defrauding more than 14 million euros (about 15.8 million dollars at present). era).
Here’s what we know about the case.
The start of the Trésor vs. Shakira
In December 2018 The Barcelona public prosecutor’s office said in a complaint filed against the Colombian artist that Shakira had not submitted the liquidation of personal income tax (IRPF) and wealth tax (IP) corresponding to the years 2012, 2013 and 2014.
This caused economic damage to the Public Treasury of 12.3 million for personal income tax and 2.19 million for wealth tax, in this case to the Agència Tributària de Catalunya.
Shakira said at that time that between 2012, 2013 and 2014 she did not reside in Spanish territory and for this reason she did not carry out any activity or receive any income in Spain.
Shakira ‘evaded’ taxes, prosecutor’s office says
According to document presented in 2018, consulted by CNN at the time, the artist “used a corporate structure to escape taxation of income from his professional activity and his image rights” (page 3). These companies that were part of the business network are located in places like the British Virgin Islands, the Netherlands, Panama and Luxembourg.
“There is no debt”, says Shakira
In February 2019, the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia shakira city to testify for the Treasury fraud case, by June 12, 2019.
After appearing in court in Barcelona, her communications agency said in a statement that the singer “has complied at all times, including between 2011 and 2014, with her tax obligations in all the countries in which she has worked (including in the United States) and does not owe any amount to the Spanish Treasury,” Llorente y Cuenca said.
Shakira’s representative agency said that prior to the imposition of the lawsuit in 2018, “Shakira made full payment of the amount, in addition to providing comprehensive information to the Treasury. Therefore, there is currently no debt”, the communication adds.
The theme of Shakira’s residence
The Shakira’s place of residence is the key in this case.
According to the Spanish tax code, anyone who resides in this country for at least six months and one day (or 183 days) in a given year is responsible for paying taxes in Spain.
And Judge Marco Jesus Juberias, who filed the complaint, the Colombian lived more than 200 days in Spain in each of those three years (2012, 2013 and 2014), making her responsible for paying taxes in Spain.
In 2021, Juberias said that in the investigation so far, the Spanish tax agency and Shakira’s lawyers have argued over the meaning of “main residence”.
Spanish media reported that Shakira’s team argued that the singer’s main residence was in the Bahamas in the years in question. But local media also said he had a home in the Barcelona area, with his then-partner FC Barcelona football defender Gerard Pique, with whom he has two children.
Since 2015, Shakira’s official residence has been in Barcelona.
Shakira will be judged
In July 2021, the prosecution and the singer did not reach an agreement.
So a judge in a court near Barcelona ruled the Colombian singer could stand trial for alleged tax evasion of 14.5 million euros ($17 million) in Spain, saying there was “sufficient evidence” to hold a trial. .
According to a statement issued by the singer’s public relations team: “Shakira and her team consider this matter to be a total violation of her rights, since she has always behaved beyond reproach, as a person and taxpayer, and a total willingness to resolve any disagreements early on, even before the criminal process.
— With information from Claudia Rebaza and Florencia Trucco of CNN en Español.