Shakira could face eight years in jail over Spanish tax row

She is accused of failing to pay taxes between 2012 and 2014, a period in which the pop star says she did not live in Spain

Colombian singer Shakira rejected a plea deal and is accused of tax fraud. AFP

A Spanish prosecutor is seeking a prison term of eight years for Colombian pop superstar Shakira over a €14.5 million ($14.7m) tax fraud case, documents showed on Friday.

The singer, who has sold more than 80 million records worldwide with hits such as Hips Don't Lie, rejected a settlement offer from the prosecutor's office this week to close the case.

She is accused of failing to pay taxes between 2012 and 2014, a period in which Shakira, 45, says she did not live in Spain.

The prosecutor's document, seen by Reuters, asserts that Shakira was ordinarily resident in Spain between 2012 and 2014 and in May 2012 bought a house in Barcelona which became a family home for herself, her partner and their son born in Spain in 2013.

It asked for an eight-year prison sentence and a fine of more than €23m should she be found guilty. A date for trial has yet to be set.

Asked to comment, Shakira's representatives referred to a previous statement released on Wednesday, saying the singer was "fully confident of her innocence” and that she considers the case “a total violation of her rights”.

The terms of the earlier settlement offer have not been disclosed.

The singer — nicknamed the Queen of Latin Pop — said she initially paid the money that the Spanish tax office said she owed and claims she has no outstanding debt with the tax authorities.

The latest development in the tax case comes a month after Shakira and her husband, FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, announced they were separating. Shakira, 45, and Pique, 35, have been together since 2011 and have two sons