Colombian superstar Shakira has been acquitted in a long-standing tax fraud case by Spain’s National Court, eight years after the accusations first surfaced. The court ordered the Spanish government to return 60 million euros ($69 million) to the artist. This significant ruling, detailed in a judicial document obtained on Monday, May 18, found that Shakira did not meet the minimum residency requirement to be taxed in Spain during the year 2011.

The case centered on whether Shakira was legally obligated to pay Spanish taxes on income generated during her extensive world tour in 2011, which included 120 concerts across 37 countries. Spanish tax authorities had argued that she had spent sufficient time in the country to be classified as a tax resident. However, the National Court unequivocally rejected this claim, also dismissing the notion that Spain constituted the primary hub of her economic activities. Consequently, the court mandated the return of the withheld 60 million euros, along with accumulated interest and legal costs.

Expressing profound relief, Shakira stated, “After more than eight years enduring brutal public accusations and sleepless nights that took a toll on my health and my family’s well-being, the National Court has finally set the record straight.” She emphasized, “There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself was never able to prove otherwise.” Her lawyer, José Luis Prada, characterized the verdict as the culmination of an “eight-year ordeal,” highlighting Shakira’s unique strength and resources to see the process through, unlike many anonymous taxpayers who might lack such means to defend themselves. Shakira further expressed her hope that this ruling will establish a vital precedent for other taxpayers entangled in similar disputes with Spain’s Tax Agency.

This acquittal marks a separate legal battle from another tax case Shakira faced concerning the years 2012 to 2014, a period when she resided in Barcelona with her former partner, Gerard Piqué. In November 2023, she reached an agreement with Spanish authorities for that case, acknowledging six charges for unpaid taxes, receiving a suspended three-year sentence, and paying a substantial fine of $7.6 million.

The news of her acquittal comes as Shakira is experiencing a prominent phase in her international career. She is currently preparing to conclude the European leg of her "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour" in Madrid, where 12 dates are scheduled for October at the temporary “Shakira Stadium,” purpose-built for the tour’s final stretch. Her recent achievements also include a performance for 2.5 million people at Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro and an upcoming highly anticipated halftime show at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, where she is set to perform alongside BTS and Madonna.