The tax records don't lie! Spanish court says 'sufficient evidence' for Shakira to stand trial

A Spanish court has shot down an appeal from award-winning Colombian singer Shakira, upholding a July 2021 ruling which said “sufficient evidence” existed for her to stand trial over alleged tax fraud.

Last year, Judge Marco Jesus Juberias ruled that the singer failed to pay up to $17.2 million in tax on income earned while living in the Spanish region of Catalonia between 2012 and 2014, Reuters reported.

"The documents (...) annexed to the lawsuit are sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to continue with the proceedings," the judge said in the court document.

Shakira’s legal team, however, has argued that she first moved to Spain in 2015 and has met all of her tax obligations since then. In a statement on Thursday, they said has always paid her taxes and followed the guidance of some of the world’s best tax experts.

"Shakira's conduct on tax matters has always been impeccable in all the countries she had to pay taxes and she has trusted and followed faithfully the recommendations of the best specialists and advisers," the statement said.

The court not yet set a date for the 45-year-old singer to stand trial.

Currently, Shakira lives with FC Barcelona soccer defender Gerard Pique. They have been together since 2011 and have two children.