Shakira has found herself embroiled in legal troubles once more, as Spanish prosecutors level fresh tax fraud charges against her, this time concerning her income in 2018.
This development is part of a series of allegations that the 'Hips Don't Lie' singer failed to meet her tax obligations in Spain, a claim she categorically denies.
According to a statement obtained by the Associated Press, prosecutors from Barcelona assert that Shakira, 46, neglected to remit approximately $7.1 million (6.7 million euros) in taxes for the year 2018. It is suggested that she leveraged an offshore company situated in a tax haven to circumvent this payment.
Shakira was notified about these charges in Miami, her current place of residence. These accusations are not the first of their kind; they succeed earlier probes initiated in July by a Spanish court into the alleged discrepancies in the singer's personal income and wealth tax in the said year.
The court, in Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona, instituted a second investigation following a formal complaint by the Barcelona Economic Crimes Prosecutor about the artist's purported tax evasion activities, as translated from Spanish media giant El Pais.
The localized media source, El Periodico, also conveyed that the prosecutor's office has lodged a complaint covering two alleged instances of tax offenses.
This matter has garnered substantial attention, emphasizing the intricate relationship between celebrities and tax obligations, and placing Shakira at the center of an escalating legal quandary.
The multi-platinum artist’s representatives are yet to issue a statement concerning the fresh allegations.
A representative for Shakira told People in a statement at the time that she "defends having always acted in accordance with the law and under the advice of the best tax experts. 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."
The 'Underneath Your Clothes' singer, meanwhile, will stand trial in a $13.9 million tax evasion case after being accused of not paying taxes from 2012 to 2014.
Prosecutors in Spain said the star spent the majority of those years residing in Spain with her former partner and former professional Spanish soccer player, Gerard Piqué, and their two sons, Sasha, eight, and Milan, 10, and was therefore obliged to follow the country's tax laws.
Shakira says that she spent the majority of her time living in her primary residence located in the Bahamas and has denied committing tax evasion. Her public relations firm has also claims that she paid what she owed in addition $3 million in interest.
