Canada

Shakira’s tax case explained

Shakira’s team claims she has “always been cooperative and law abiding.”

A Spanish prosecutor is seeking eight years in prison and a fine of more than $23.5 million for Shakira in a tax fraud case.

Mark Piasecki/FilmMagic/Getty Images

So how did we get here? The period in question was 2012-2014, when Shakira was accused of failing to pay $15 million in taxes. Shakira, for her part, says that she did not live in Spain.

Luke Walker/Getty Images

According to Reuters and the AP, the prosecutor alleges that Shakira spent more than half of her time in Spain during those two years — and that the house she bought in Barcelona in 2012 became a family home for Shakira, Gerard Pique and their son born in 2013

See Press/Corbis via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Shakira’s team say the singer has no debts to the Spanish tax office and has even paid the €17.2 million she owes.

NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

That brings us to this week, when Shakira rejected a plea deal from prosecutors on Wednesday. That means the case will go to trial — leading to documents showing prosecutors intend for a fine and jail sentence if Shakira is found guilty to hit the headlines on Friday.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Shakira’s representatives subsequently said in a statement that she had “always cooperated and complied with the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and taxpayer.”

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

No date has yet been set for the case.

BuzzFeed Daily

Keep up with the latest daily news with the BuzzFeed Daily Newsletter!