The Spanish tax authorities continue to hunt for VIP evaders. After Leo Messi, the Barellona striker, sentenced to 21 months in prison (suspended sentence because less than 24 months) for having eluded 4,1 million tax for three years, Cristiano Ronaldo ended up in court on charges of evading 14,7 millions of euros between 2011 and 2014 Jose Mourinho, coach of Manchester United, who in September was accused of having defrauded the Spanish tax for 3,3 million euros related to the proceeds of image rights is now the turn of the famous singer Shakira, companion of Barcelona football player Gerard Piqué.
According to the prosecutor, Shakira resided in Barcelona, while officially residing in tax havens, and should have paid taxes in Spain. The pop star was challenged for the proceeds from overseas tours made when she still lived in Barcelona and where it appears she still resided. The South American star, according to the newspaper La Vanguardia, would have escaped several tens of millions of euros over four years.
According to the investigations conducted by the Spanish prosecutor during those three years, Shakira spent more than 183 days in Barcelona, thus exceeding the threshold after which they are obliged to pay taxes in Spain. The pop star faces up to two years in prison in addition to a fine.
According to La Vanguardia, which cites sources close to the pop star "it's just a difference of criteria and not fiscal fraud, it was only used a different technique".