Chinese “live-streaming queen” Viya fined USD 210 million for tax evasion

Viya, also known as “live-streaming queen” has been ordered to pay 1.34 billion yuan in back taxes, late fees and fines, the State Taxation Administration said Monday on its website.

According to the Chinese state tabloid Global Times, it's the largest penalty ever imposed on a live-streamer.

From 2019 to 2020, Huang evaded more than 640 million yuan ($100 million) in taxes "by falsely reporting the commission income she earned from live-streaming platforms," a tax official in Hangzhou said on Monday, reports CNN.

"If she can pay the tax, late fee and fine within the prescribed time limit, she will not be investigated for criminal accountability," the official added. "If she fails ... the tax authority will transfer it to the police department for processing according to law."

In a post on her Weibo account, she said she was "deeply sorry". "I thoroughly accept the punishment made by the tax authorities," the post said.

Huang had millions of followers on China's major social media and shopping platforms — including Weibo, online shopping platform Taobao and TikTok's China version Douyin — but her accounts were removed late on Monday.

According to the report, Huang, 36, became one of China's most popular influencers over the last decade, helping to sell goods worth billions of yuan.

Chinese authorities have intensified scrutiny of this powerful industry over the last few months. In August, the Ministry of Commerce outlined proposals for an "industry standard" for live-streamers who market products on online shopping platforms. The rules included details about how hosts on such shows should dress or speak in front of the camera, reports CNN.

Last month, online influencers were banned from recommending stocks online, and 88 celebrities were given "warnings" over live-streaming content.