The article is part of a collaboration with Obitar
We thought that taxes were a gray and boring field, of people in ties and financial press until the celebs came and sprinkled stardust on it. Now in the center of the stage is the Colombian singer Shakira, the ex-partner of the super soccer player Fika, who is suspected of having disappeared revenues of 14.5 million euros. In the last few days it is reported that the prosecution demands 8 years in prison for her, and while the ball is moving to the court’s decision – it is time to understand when the tax issues in the global world became interesting.
Shakira, Martha Stewart, Eyal Golan and Bar Refaeli are familiar figures to all of us. Stardust surrounds them from every direction. They seem to be living the dream that many of us would like to live: they model beauty, success, publicity, luxury resorts in exotic locations, private jets, super brands, luxury restaurants and what not.
We read about them in the press and around the web and we enjoy learning about them and imagining ourselves in their place. Voyeurism has become an inseparable part of our lives, whether we like it or not, as evidenced by the multitude of reality shows washing the screen.
On a day-to-day basis, taxes are a gray area, which is talked about mainly in the economic press and is usually associated with suits, accountants, glasses and lawyers in ties, the majority of the population prefers to stay away from taxes, like fire and God forbid to encounter the factors that enforce their payment.
The meeting of Shakira and all the icons with the tax authorities in Israel and around the world, makes the discussion in the field of taxes “sexy”, in the sense that everyone is suddenly interested in the issues of taxation and comes to diligently read the articles.
In fact, the “seeming” entanglements with the tax authorities only fuel the “young dreamers” and encourage them to realize the longed-for dream which is “the good life in their embodiment”.
Shakira is in a relationship with Fika, a Barcelona player, so even those who are not interested in Shakira get into the news, Super League players, as we know, are the dream of millions of parents and children, who, from a young age, dress in their game uniforms. There are those who increase what they do and sign up for soccer teams, even before they started walking, equip themselves with private trainers and what not. Investing a lot of resources to become the next Messi or Ronaldo.
So when such names are called to a tax issue, even this seemingly “heavenly” topic, grabs headlines and for good reason.
Teenagers, who do not open a newspaper or a book suddenly become interested in taxation issues, there is no doubt that this is a welcome step in this sense.
On the other hand, since we are talking about role models, it is possible that the desire to imitate them can lay the seeds that will make them become smarter in the future and find creative ways, omit income.
The evasion of taxes in these cases is linked to the sophistication of crimes of the “high-end” and the young eyes begin to shine, because these icons, according to their method, surely know what they are doing, because it is no coincidence, they are living the dream.
Shakira in this case, contrary to the icons who signed deals and apparently on the recommendation of the dear advisers she took, atone for the suspicions attributed to her and now she is about to conduct a trial, to prove her innocence, undoubtedly the ultimate characteristics, for a Hollywood script and a biographical book alongside the affair, are requested.
The alleged suspicions are that she has falsified income in the amount of 14.5 million euros between 2012 and 2014, when she lived in Barcelona with her ex-partner, footballer Gerard Pique, and their two children.
According to the prosecutors, Shakira avoided paying her taxes to the state during that period of time, even though she stayed in Spain for more than 200 days each year and was therefore considered a resident of Spain.
On the other hand, the singer’s defense team argued that her permanent residence at that time was actually the Bahamas, but this version was not accepted in court. In fact, the judge agreed with the claim that the singer and her financiers used tax shelters outside of Spain in an attempt to hide her sources of income during these years.
These are imaginary amounts for the majority of the population and therefore ignite the imagination.
As mentioned, the issues concern the “residency question” in the global world where people routinely move between countries. Here the question arises of which country, in terms of taxation, Shakira was a resident of. In other words, where does Shakira have to pay tax. This is a question that comes up in the economic courts, news to the readers for many years and in most cases does not make the headlines.
In recent days it has been reported that the prosecution demands that Shakira be sentenced to 8 years in prison. All we have to do is wait and see what end will be given to this story: will Shakira be vindicated at the end of the proceedings or will she be convicted and replace the shiny dresses with prison uniforms – the ball goes to the court to decide.
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