Colombian superstar Shakira has paid 6.6 million euros ($7.2 million) to a Spanish court investigating her for unpaid taxes, according to her agency, only days after she agreed to settle another tax issue.
Spanish prosecutors began a second investigation against the 46-year-old singer in July, accusing her of defrauding Spain’s tax office out of 6.6 million euros in 2018, including interest and adjustments, through a network of companies, some of which were based in tax havens.
Shakira paid the court in August, the agency that represents her told AFP, confirming a report in daily newspaper El Periodico.
The 6.6-million-euro payment does not indicate the singer’s guilt or innocence in the case, but rather is “another demonstration of her willingness to repay her possible debts to the Spanish tax authorities,” according to the newspaper.
Separately, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer negotiated a last-minute deal with Spanish authorities on Monday to avoid a trial for tax evasion on revenue generated between 2012 and 2014.
As part of the agreement, Shakira agreed to pay a fine of 7.3 million euros, which is equal to half of the unpaid tax.
She had already paid the Spanish tax authorities 17.45 million euros to settle her predicament in this matter.
The singer, who had earlier turned down a plea bargain from prosecutors, said in a statement that she had settled “with the best interests of my kids in mind, who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.”
Following her divorce from former FC Barcelona star defender Gerard Pique, Shakira relocated to Miami with her two sons in April.