China’s tax authorities have been using a targeted campaign to hunt down tax evaders in the film industry. The news agency Reuters reported yesterday that more than eleven billion yuan in unpaid taxes has been collected since October.
According to state news agency Xinhua, the recall was over, filmmakers in front of and behind the camera were called to correct their tax returns.
China’s Superstar under Caught
Also a number of celebrities were among the caught tax evaders, such as Fan Bingbing, in China as an actress, singer, presenter and model a superstar. It was already in the international headlines last year, because it had disappeared for months from the public. In October, Fan spoke up and addressed her approximately 62 million followers via Sina Weibo, China’s microblogging service.
Fan Bingbing is active in many industries in China
In the message, she asked forgiveness for her tax evasion. Fan had to pay about 114 million euros penalty, because she should have veiled her true fortune. She wrote that she accepted the punishment and would in future work for more transparency. She also praised the Communist Party.
Because of the Chinese authorities‘ tax campaign and tough controls, insiders in the film industry are talking about a „cold winter“ in the industry. Film projects have been stopped, investors have withdrawn.
