Rhiannon Ingle
Shakira is facing going to prison for eight years after being charged with tax fraud allegations.
Spanish prosecutors have charged 'Waka Waka' star, Shakira, with allegedly failing to pay €6.7 million (£5.8 million) in tax on her 2018 income, authorities said today (26 September), in Spain’s latest financial allegations against the Colombian singer.
The mum-of-two singer is already set to stand trial in a €14.5 million (£12.6 million) tax fraud case that hinges on where she lived between the years of 2012-2014 later this year (20 November) in Barcelona.
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Prosecutors in Barcelona have alleged the Grammy winning artist spent more than half of the 2012-14 period in Spain and, therefore, should have paid taxes in the country, even though her official residence was in the Bahamas.
A representative for Shakira said statement last July that she 'always acted in concordance with the law and on the advice of her financial advisers'.
They added: "She is now focused on her life as an artist in Miami and is confident that there will be a favorable resolution of her tax issues."
Shakira is alleged to have used an offshore company based in a tax haven to avoid paying the tax, Barcelona prosecutors said in a statement.
The singer has since been informed of the latest charges in Miami, where she lives, according to the statement.
Spanish tax officials opened the latest case against Shakira last July and, after reviewing the evidence gathered over the last two months, prosecutors have decided to bring charges.
No date for a trial was set.
The public relations firm that previously has handled Shakira’s affairs, Llorente y Cuenca, made no immediate comment.
Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has been linked with Spain since she started dating the now-retired football player Gerard Piqué.
In June 2022, Shakira publicly announced her split from Piqué of over 10 years after living together in Barcelona until last year.
A statement from the singer's agency reads: "We regret to confirm that we are parting ways. For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy.
"Thank you for your understanding."
Shakira, 46, and Piqué, 36, had been together since 2010 and have two sons together – Milan and Sasha.
Although they were together for 11 years, the former couple never married.
Speaking to Elle magazine about the split, Shakira revealed: "Oh, this is really hard to talk about personally, especially as this is the first time I’ve ever addressed this situation in an interview.
"I’ve remained quiet and just tried to process it all."
She continued: "It’s been tough not only for me, but also for my kids. Incredibly difficult."