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Tax agency targets Chinese pop star

David Landes
David Landes - [email protected]
Tax agency targets Chinese pop star

Chinese pop music star and Stockholm resident Wei Wei has been targeted by Swedish tax authorities, who recently attempted to freeze 50 million kronor ($6.5 million) of the singer’s assets.

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According to the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), Wei Wei has neglected to pay income taxes on money earned from concert tours throughout her homeland, where she is one of the country’s biggest stars.

The agency estimated that Wei Wei earned around 29 million kronor per year between 2004 and 2008 – income which was never reported to Swedish tax authorities.

As a result, the agency argued, it was justified in requesting that Wei Wei’s assets be frozen until her tax debts in Sweden are paid.

But the County Administrative Court (Länsrätten) has rejected the Tax Agency’s request, citing the fact that its estimates were based on “information from the internet and the media, including interviews with Wei Wei as well as conversations the Tax Agency had with people who are long-time residents of China”.

While the court agreed that it was “probable” that Wei Wei had indeed earned money that ought to be taxed in Sweden, it ultimately ruled that the tax agency had failed to provide “enough concrete evidence” to back their claims about Wei Wei’s earnings.

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