China’s celebrities and internet influencers given 10 days to pay outstanding taxes
- Tax bureaus in some of nation’s most prosperous regions tell those with unpaid or incorrectly filed taxes to take action before year’s end or face punishment
- It comes days after top e-commerce influencer Huang Wei, also known as Viya, was fined a record US$210 million for tax evasion
The tax authorities in Beijing and Shanghai, and the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, have ordered those with outstanding taxes or who have filed their taxes incorrectly to promptly report and correct their filings before the end of the year, or face severe punishment, the government notice said.
“Celebrities, internet influencers and other public figures should strictly comply with tax regulations even more,” the notice said. “Those refusing to self-assess their [tax obligation] or who have done so incorrectly will be severely punished by the tax bureau in accordance with the laws and regulations.”
Taobao is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post.
Speculation online that other influencers may face similar punishment has prompted some to come forward to clarify that they have been compliant in their tax filings.
Li’s company Meione Network Technology told reporters on Wednesday that the business had been run in an honest way and operations remained normal.
Actress Qi Wei, 37, who is managed by the same influencer talent company as Viya, on Tuesday issued a statement on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, saying rumours that she had also evaded taxes were false.