Spanish Court Orders €55 Mln Tax Refund to Shakira

A Spanish court has ordered tax authorities in Spain to return more than €55 million ($64 million) to Shakira after ruling that the singer wrongly paid the amount in a long-running tax dispute linked to 2011.

According to court documents reviewed by AFP, Spain’s National Court concluded that tax officials failed to prove Shakira spent more than 183 days in Spain during 2011 — the legal threshold required for tax residency.

The court determined that the Colombian pop star spent only 163 days in the country that year and rejected claims that her primary economic interests were based in Spain.

Judges ordered the Spanish tax agency to refund the payments along with legal interest, overturning tax assessments and substantial penalties previously imposed on the singer.

Spanish authorities had argued that Shakira, who is of Lebanese descent, should have been taxed as a Spanish resident in 2011.

The ruling comes as the global music star prepares to conclude her record-breaking world tour with a series of concerts in Madrid beginning in September.