Shakira reacts to major tax victory with Rihanna’s song

Shakira is celebrating one of the biggest legal wins of her career, and she’s doing it with the help of Rihanna. The Colombian superstar recently shared a carousel of glamorous photos on Instagram set to RiRi’s unapologetic anthem “Bitch Better Have My Money.” The timing immediately caught attention online after HOLA! confirmed that Spain’s National Court ruled decisively in the “Dai Dai” singer’s favor in her years-long battle against the Spanish Tax Agency, widely known as Hacienda.

Fans flooded Shakira’s comments section, applauding her song choice. The track, which is known for its themes of revenge, power, and getting paid back, arrived just as news broke that Hacienda would have to return roughly €60 million to the singer following the court’s decision.

The post was a subtle but unmistakable message from the singer after enduring nearly a decade of accusations and public scrutiny over alleged tax fraud. 

A Legal Battle That Lasted More Than Eight Years

The ruling marks the definitive conclusion of a case that has followed Shakira since 2011. As HOLA! Reported, Spanish authorities had accused the singer of failing to pay taxes in Spain, arguing she qualified as a tax resident because she allegedly spent more than 183 days in the country during that year.

© Europa Press via Getty Images

However, the Spanish National Court dismantled that argument because the Tax Agency failed to prove that Shakira met the legal residency threshold. The court specifically stated that “said stay, as the Administration itself determines, does not reach 183 days,” ultimately declaring the imposed penalties “contrary to law.”

The court also rejected Hacienda’s use of “sporadic absences,” a controversial interpretation that attempted to count time spent outside Spain as days effectively spent within the country.

At the time, Shakira was in the middle of a massive international tour, performing 120 concerts across 37 countries. The court noted she did not own a permanent residence in Spain during that period, had not yet established a family there, and did not have the center of her business activities based in the country.

© Europa Press via Getty Images

Another major point in the ruling shows that the court concluded there was no evidence proving that Shakira used shell companies fraudulently or created a fake structure to avoid taxes.

Shakira Speaks Out After the Court Decision

Following the ruling, Shakira released an emotional statement reflecting on the years she spent fighting the accusations. “After more than eight years of enduring brutal public exposure, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately affected my health and the well-being of my family, the National Court has finally set the record straight,” the singer said. “There was never any fraud, and the Administration itself was never able to prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true.”

The “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” artist also addressed the personal toll of the case and the impact of being publicly portrayed as guilty throughout the process. “However, for nearly a decade, I was treated as guilty,” she continued. “Every step of the process was leaked, distorted, and amplified, using my name and public image to send a threatening message to the rest of the taxpayers.”

“Today, that narrative collapses, and it does so with the full force of a judicial ruling,” Shakira added. She hopes the outcome sets a precedent for others facing similar treatment from authorities. “My greatest wish is that this resolution sets a precedent for the Tax Authority and serves the thousands of ordinary citizens who are abused and crushed every day by a system that presumes their guilt and forces them to prove their innocence at the cost of emotional and financial ruin. This victory is dedicated to them.”

So now Shakira’s bank account is ready to welcome back her millions, and as she wants, and Rihanna once said: “Bitch Better Have My Money.”