BARCELONA, SPAIN: Pop star Shakira is facing more legal issues from Spain's tax office as a court near Barcelona has granted permission to investigate a second case of alleged tax fraud by the Colombian singer. This is in addition to the ongoing trial where Shakira is accused of not paying €14.5 million ($13.9 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. Shakira denied any wrongdoing and referred to the accusations as "false."
Now, a Spanish judge, in agreement with state prosecutors, will probe into two potential instances of tax fraud by Shakira in 2018, per People. The exact amount of money involved in this second case has not been disclosed by the court. This new investigation adds further complexity to Shakira's legal situation in Spain, and the outcomes could lead to additional legal actions depending on the findings. The court in charge of investigating both cases of alleged tax fraud by Shakira is located in the town of Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona.
What tax problems does Shakira have?
The first case, which is scheduled for trial, centers on Shakira's residency during the years 2012 to 2014. Prosecutors in Barcelona allege that the Grammy-winning artist spent more than half of that period in Spain and should have paid taxes in the country, despite her official residence being listed in the Bahamas. In response to the allegations, Shakira's public relations firm, Llorente y Cuenca, released a statement in Spanish asserting that the artist has always acted in accordance with the law and has followed the advice of her financial advisers.
Regarding the second investigation into possible tax fraud in 2018, the firm stated that Shakira, now residing in Miami, has not yet been formally notified about it. As of now, the pop star awaits further developments related to this new investigation. "[Shakira] is now focused on her artistic career in Miami and is calm and confident that she will receive a favorable resolution of her fiscal issues," the firm said.
'[Shakira] must be notified personally at her new address'
According to Shakira's representative, the pop star has not received any formal notification regarding the second investigation related to her financial activities in the year 2018. "The singer's legal team will not make any comments until the notification reaches them through the official and legally established channels. As it is publicly known, and as the Spanish Treasury was officially notified, Shakira is now living in Miami, so she must be notified personally at her new address, in strict accordance with the provisions of the Law," the statement read.
