6th February 2018
As the global fight against tax evasion continues, it’s almost becoming commonplace to see celebrities named in fraud cases. And while she may have claimed her hips don’t lie, it would appear that singer Shakira’s tax returns do.
Singer accused of tax evasion
According to reports in The Guardian, Spanish judicial authorities are investigating the singer’s tax payments between 2012 and 2015 before she officially moved to Barcelona. It’s alleged that before her official relocation, Shakira lived in the city for three years but didn’t pay Spanish income tax.
The singer’s lawyer has claimed that she’s lived in a variety of locations throughout her career but has ‘fully met the laws of all the jurisdictions where she has resided’. While inquiries are on-going, a result is expected in June and the celebrity has hired auditing firm PwC for the duration of the investigation.
A string of fraud concerns
This is not the first time the singer’s name has appeared in tax evasion news. She was one of those named in the Paradise Papers last year, when it was suggested that a substantial amount of her earnings are being held offshore.
According to the papers, Shakira’s ‘musical assets, intellectual property rights and trademarks were moved to a Maltese company in 2009. This business then increased its capital with a share premium of €31 million once these assets were valued, claiming this money was an ‘interest-free loan agreement’ from a Luxembourg entity also named to Shakira.
International work requires expert support
There’s no doubt that working across the globe presents a number of challenges. As this example shows, moving from country to country can create a reporting headache for individuals, businesses and even fraud investigators. And this is where 6CATS International can help.
As the leading global brand and supplier of contractor management solutions, we recognise the importance of providing fully compliant, transparent and streamlined contractor workforce solutions. Our team of experts provide recruitment agencies with the highest levels of service whilst also offering complete compliance assurance.
To give extra reassurance, when using our solutions, we also fully indemnify recruitment businesses and end users from any tax compliance liability. So, what are you waiting for? Speak to the team today:
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