The Spanish tax office now claims Colombian pop star Shakira owes it a total of €6.6 million (about R135 million).
Shakira must already appear in court in Barcelona, Spain, in November of this year, on previous charges of tax evasion dating back to 2018. However, it is not known how much money is involved in this case.
Details of the latest charges were made public on Tuesday after the 46-year-old “Waka Waka” singer was officially notified of them at her home in Miami.
However, the singer, who is also known for tracks such as “Whenever, wherever” and “Underneath your clothes”, denies all charges against her and says she owes nothing to the Spanish tax office.
Prosecutors point to two alleged violations for filing “false tax returns” detailing her personal income and wealth taxes in 2018, when she lived in Barcelona.
According to the court documents drawn up in May, Shakira apparently used a “corporate framework” involving companies in an attempt to evade taxes.
The singer’s team also denies that she received an official notification this week about the latest allegations against her.
“Shakira’s legal team is focused on preparing for the trial related to the period from 2012 to 2014, which begins on November 20,” Shakira’s representatives said in a brief statement.
Prosecutors proposed a sentence of eight years behind bars and a fine of €24 million (about R485 million) after Shakira rejected a plea deal.
According to prosecutors, Shakira lived in Spain for more than half of the period between 2012 and 2014 and should therefore have paid taxes in that country.
The prosecutors say Shakira moved to Spain after her relationship with FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique was made public. However, she had official tax residence in the Bahama island group until 2015.
Shakira and Pique lived in Barcelona until late last year when their 11-year relationship ended. They have two children.
The singer announced in April this year that she was leaving Barcelona and now lives in Miami.
