Shakira has reportedly been accused of tax evasion by Spanish authorities and an alleged complaint was made to have her investigated.
It is alleged that the pop star failed to pay income tax while living in Barcelona between 2012 and 2014, having not officially officially switched residence from the Bahamas until 2015.
The Colombian lives in the northeastern city with her partner Gerard Pique and their two sons. She started dating the Barcelona defender in 2011.
Prosecutor Jose Miguel Company said tax authorities referred the probe to the Barcelona prosecutor’s office in December, but a decision on whether to press charges may not arrive until mid-June – when Shakira is due to be on tour to promote her latest album.
If the investigation finds any wrongdoing, the 40-year-old singer could follow a number of other high-profile figures who have found themselves in court over allegations of tax-dodging.
Last year, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho settled accusations made against him, while Pique’s teammate Lionel Messi avoided jail but was handed a £221,000 fine. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo also appeared in court.
Shakira has hired auditing firm PwC for the investigation, which comes months after she was named alongside other famous faces from the world of music in the Paradise Papers.
Madonna and U2 frontman Bono were just two of the names featured in the leaks, which detailed offshore tax arrangements.
They appear to show that in 2009, Shakira relocated her intellectual property rights and brands to a company based in Malta, which has been accused of being a tax haven.
Shakira, whose hits include Hips Don’t Lie, Underneath Your Clothes and Whenever, Wherever, is scheduled to be in Germany as part of a promotional tour for her 11th album, El Dorado, in June, having twice pushed back the start date after suffering vocal cord problems.
