Core Viewpoint - The Chinese tax authorities have uncovered significant tax evasion among high-income individuals, including celebrities and internet influencers, with a total of 15.23 billion yuan in taxes recovered from 1,818 individuals from January to November this year, highlighting issues of tax fairness and public trust [1][6]. Group 1: Tax Evasion Cases - High-profile influencers and small online shops are frequently involved in tax evasion, with some cases revealing evasion amounts reaching millions [2][5]. - Notable cases include a popular influencer with 50 million followers who was fined over 8.29 million yuan for underreporting taxes by 16.59 million yuan [3]. - Other influencers, such as the couple "Xiaoying," faced penalties totaling 17.82 million yuan for tax violations, leading to account suspensions across multiple platforms [3][4]. Group 2: Common Evasion Tactics - Influencers often use personal accounts to receive payments, avoiding tax reporting through corporate channels, which is a widespread evasion method [7]. - Some high-income individuals register multiple shell companies to split income and lower tax rates, as seen in a case where a clothing store evaded 3.67 million yuan in taxes [8]. - Others misrepresent income types or submit false declarations to conceal actual earnings, as demonstrated by a car reviewer who reported significantly lower income than expected based on his popularity [9][10]. Group 3: Impact of Tax Evasion - Tax evasion undermines tax fairness and public resources, as it deprives the government of funds necessary for public services like education and healthcare [12]. - It disrupts market order by allowing non-compliant businesses to undercut legitimate competitors, potentially driving compliant businesses out of the market [13]. - The behavior of high-profile figures can send negative signals to the public, suggesting that tax evasion is acceptable, which could erode societal trust and encourage similar behavior among others [14]. Group 4: Consumer Precautions - Consumers can utilize platforms like Qichacha to verify the compliance and background of influencers and their associated businesses before making purchases [15]. - Key steps include checking the influencer's associated companies for compliance, assessing the legitimacy of their business operations, and monitoring any legal disputes or public sentiment regarding their products [16][19]. - This proactive approach can help consumers avoid potential pitfalls and support a healthier economic environment in the influencer industry [21].