Taxes
China Hits Top Influencer With $210 Million Fine Over Taxes
- Influencer known to millions as Viya immediately apologizes
- Episode may spook brands that rely on livestreamers for sales
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China slapped an unprecedented $210 million fine on a top livestreamer for tax evasion, stepping up President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on online influencers who have grown wildly popular in recent years.
Huang Wei -- also known as Viya -- was ordered to pay 1.34 billion yuan in back taxes, late fees and fines, the State Taxation Administration said Monday in a statement on its website. She avoided taxes totaling 643 million yuan by concealing personal income and making false declarations in 2019 and 2020, the statement added.