Chinese X-men star hit by £54m tax bill
CHINESE tax authorities have ordered Fan Bingbing, the X-men film star, and companies she represents to pay taxes and penalties totalling £101 million.
The revelation ends widespread speculation over the fate of one of the country’s highest-profile entertainers three months after she disappeared from public view. Of the total amount, Fan is personally being fined around £54 million for tax evasion, according to an announcement by China’s official Xinhua News Agency.
Fan would not be investigated for criminal responsibility for tax evasion as long as the taxes, fines and late fees amounting to nearly 900 million yuan (£101million) were paid on time, the report said.
The announcement gave no indication of Fan’s whereabouts but indicated her agent is being held by police for allegedly obstructing the investigation.
Fan, 37, has starred in dozens of movies and TV series in China and is best known internationally for her role as Blink in 2014’s X-men: Days of Future Past, a cameo in the Chinese version of Iron Man 3, and star turns on the red carpet at Cannes as recently as May.
Before her disappearance, she had been booked to star with Penélope Cruz in the Hollywood film 355. She has a role alongside Bruce Willis in the forthcoming Air Strike.
Fan posted an apology on the social media site Weibo. com saying that she accepted the tax authorities’ decision and would “try my best to overcome all difficulties and raise funds to pay back taxes and fines”.
“I am unworthy of the trust of the society and let down the fans who love me,” she wrote.