Colombian singer and advocate for pan flutes Shakira has been charged with tax evasion for by Spanish prosecutors. The singer allegedly avoided paying €14.5m (AU$23m) by claiming she lived in the Bahamas during 2012-2014. Prosecutors say the singer was living in Catalonia at that point.
Shakira officially changed her residence to Barcelona in 2015, but according to The Guardian prosecutors say she was already living in the Catalan capital from 2012, and should have paid tax on her income for those years in Spain. They allege she resided mainly in Catalonia only travelling abroad for short periods.
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An investigation into the singer’s income was announced earlier this year, and last year saw Shakira mentioned in a large leak of documents regarding tax havens known as the “Paradise Papers“. Whilst Shakira has been charged, a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to put her on trial.
When asked about her living arrangements by the journalists who put together the Paradise Papers, Shakira’s lawyer said “throughout her professional career and, in every case, has fully met the laws of all the jurisdictions where she has resided.”
The “She Wolf” singer is also the sole owner of a company based in Malta called Tournesol Ltd. Malta has been accused of operating as a tax haven before. When asked about the company, Lawyers for the singer said Tournesol Ltd. “fulfils all legal requirements. All of the corresponding information relative to this entity is public and transparent.”
Watch: Shakira – “She Wolf”
