MADRID, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Treasury on Friday accused Colombian pop star Shakira of tax fraud of 14.5 million euros (16.51 million U.S. dollars) for the period between 2012 and 2014, the Spanish media reported.
The investigation centers on whether or not Shakira, who is married to FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique, actually resided in Spain over the period.
Spanish law states that if someone spends half a year and a day living in the country, they are classed as residents and have to pay tax on their earnings in Spain, even if those earnings come from work abroad.
Although the Treasury report is unable to prove that the singer spent over half of the time under investigation in Spain, with 2014 the year she spent most time in Spain (just 140 days), the tax authorities still consider her to be resident because her absences from the country were for work commitments, such as international concert tours.
Shakira's representatives have replied to the accusations by pointing out that she was resident in the Bahamas from 2004 to 2014 and that in 2013 she spent half of the year working in the United States filing the TV program 'The Voice'.
They insist it was not until 2015 when she and Pique bought a house close to Barcelona that she officially became resident in Spain.
"She doesn't owe any money," insisted Shakira's representatives, adding that during the years under investigation she had "followed the criteria and precise recommendations of (accountancy firm) Price Waterhouse," whose professionals are "specialists in tax issues."
