Against Shakira? Spanish Minister Defended Hacienda After Million-Euro Ruling
The Spanish Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, expressed his confidence in Hacienda officials this Monday after it became known that the justice system ruled in favor of Shakira and that the public treasury will have to return 60 million euros (70 million dollars) to the Colombian singer.
TL;DR
- Spain's National Court ordered the tax agency (Hacienda) to return 60 million euros to Shakira.
- The court ruled that Hacienda could not prove Shakira stayed in Spain for over 183 days in 2011, a threshold for income tax obligations.
- The ruling stated Shakira stayed 163 days, not exceeding the legal limit.
- Spanish Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun expressed confidence in Hacienda officials and reiterated the importance of fulfilling tax obligations for all residents.
- Shakira previously paid a 7.8 million euro fine in 2024 for defrauding Hacienda between 2012 and 2014, avoiding prison.
- Shakira hopes the recent ruling will set a precedent for Hacienda and criticized the "public targeting" she experienced.