Offshore Leaks Record

Colombia · Pandora Papers

Shakira (Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll): offshore leaks and what happened next

No official action reported No official action connected to the Pandora Papers reporting was found in the sources reviewed. Separately, Shakira accepted a criminal sentence by agreement in November 2023 over Spanish tax years 2012 to 2014, and in May 2026 the Audiencia Nacional annulled the 2011 tax assessment in an administrative ruling that can be appealed.2,3

Being named in a leak is not evidence of wrongdoing, and owning an offshore company can be legal. Each record sets out what was reported, the person's response, and what official action, if any, followed.

What was reported

ICIJ reported that Shakira was among public figures linked by the Pandora Papers documents to offshore assets.1

Response

Shakira's attorney said the singer declared her companies and that they do not provide tax advantages, ICIJ reported.1

What happened afterwards

  1. Investigation opened, Barcelona Provincial Prosecutor's OfficeIn late 2018 Barcelona prosecutors filed a complaint alleging six offences against the Treasury for tax years 2012 to 2014, in a case about her tax residency in Spain, Vanguardia reported. This case predates the Pandora Papers publication and is separate from it.2
  2. Convicted, Barcelona court, by agreement with prosecutors and the tax agencyAt the start of trial she admitted the offences for 2012 to 2014 under an agreement with prosecutors and the tax agency, accepting a three year prison sentence replaced by a fine of 432,000 euros plus a separate penalty of 7.3 million euros, having already paid the 14.5 million euros owed, Vanguardia reported. Bloomberg Línea described it as a deal to avoid prison. This case concerned her tax residency and is separate from the Pandora Papers.2,3
  3. Tax settlement, Spanish tax authoritiesA separate prosecutors' file opened in 2023 over her 2018 income and wealth tax was resolved in 2024 through a tax settlement of 6.6 million euros, Vanguardia reported. This matter is separate from the Pandora Papers.2
  4. Court ruled, Audiencia Nacional (contentious administrative chamber)In a non criminal, administrative tax dispute, the court annulled the 2011 income and wealth tax assessments and penalties, finding she was not a Spanish tax resident that year, and ordered a refund that Vanguardia put at more than 55 million euros and Bloomberg Línea, citing El País, at more than 60 million euros with interest. This was not a criminal acquittal. Vanguardia reported the ruling can be appealed to the Supreme Court. Shakira said the court had finally put things in their place. The dispute is separate from the Pandora Papers.2,3

Sources

  1. ICIJ, Offshore havens and hidden riches of world leaders and billionaires exposed in unprecedented leak (3 October 2021)
  2. Vanguardia, La cronología del caso fiscal de Shakira en España: ocho años de disputas con Hacienda (18 May 2026)
  3. Bloomberg Línea, Shakira es absuelta y Hacienda de España deberá devolverle 60 millones (18 May 2026)