Screenshot of a statement posted on the Sina Weibo account of Chinese actress Ju Jingyi's team on Monday, responding to allegations of tax evasion, on March 31, 2026. Photo: screenshot of Sina Weibo

Chinese actress Ju Jingyi, a well-known television star recognized for her roles in historical fantasy dramas, has been accused of tax violations, as seen from screenshots of alleged tip-top reports to the tax authorities, which sparked heated discussions on Chinese social media on Tuesday, with related hashtags quickly surging to the top of Sina Weibo's trending list.

The documents show that a tip-off filed under a real name was submitted on Monday to the inspection bureau of the Shanghai tax authority under the State Taxation Administration, accusing Ju of alleged tax evasion, according to multiple Chinese media outlets, including Elephant News under the Henan Media Group and sctv.com under the Sichuan Media Group.

According to Elephant News, the tip-off alleged that Ju significantly underreported her 2024 income. It said she declared about 11 million yuan ($1.5 million) in income, while her earnings from film, television and commercial engagements were conservatively estimated to exceed 50 million yuan, implying a discrepancy of roughly 85 to 88 percent.

Authorities have confirmed the tip-off has been formally accepted and that a review procedure has been launched, while pledging to keep the whistleblower's information confidential, per a screenshot of an official receipt dated Monday cited by multiple Chinese media outlets.

After the report triggered widespread online debate, Ju's team released a statement on Sina Weibo on Tuesday and said that she has consistently, "strictly complied with national laws and regulations," adding that she has "duly fulfilled her tax obligations as a citizen in accordance with the law" and has actively cooperated with and completed relevant inspection and review procedures.

The statement also said that over the past six months, Shanghai Siba Culture Media Co had repeatedly used its social media account to publish what it described as false information about the actress and related cases, in an attempt to "manipulate public opinion and undermine her career." Ju's team added that it would "not tolerate" what it described as defamatory actions by the company.

Shanghai Siba Culture Media Co is Ju's former agency. The incident surfaced against the backdrop of an ongoing and escalating contract dispute between Ju and Shanghai Siba, with some media reports noting that the tip-off was linked to the dispute.

The incident also came ahead of the scheduled April 1 premiere of Veil of Shadows, a costume romance fantasy drama starring Ju, with several of her other projects also awaiting release, according to sctv.com.

Days ago on March 26, Shanghai Siba Culture Media Co issued a statement on its official Weibo account, denying online rumors that the two sides had reached any settlement, saying that it had not held any negotiations or reached any settlement with Ju or her team. The company added that the contract dispute between the two sides remains under judicial review.

Tensions between the two sides date back to late 2025. On December 15, 2025, Ju's team said that her contract with Shanghai Siba Culture Media Co had expired in June 2024, and accused the company of forging her signature and authorization documents, according to sctv.com.

The company released a handwriting authentication report the following day, denying allegations that it had forged Ju's signature and authorization, and accused her of spreading misleading statements about her income and working conditions.

The company said it had paid her more than 139 million yuan in pre-tax income as of May 2024 and had for years provided additional benefits including dedicated drivers, chauffeured vehicles, and high-end Shanghai apartments, according to the statement.

In the statement in December, the agency warned it would release more evidences over alleged economic violations involving Ju, signaling a further escalation of the dispute.

Ju Jingyi, born in June 1994 in Suining, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, is an actress and singer who rose to prominence as a member of SNH48 after debuting in 2013. She has since starred in a range of television dramas and has built a large following, particularly among younger audiences in China.

The latest developments have reignited public discussion over tax compliance in China's entertainment industry, particularly as regulatory scrutiny has intensified in recent years.

China launched a campaign in 2018 to regulate tax practices in the film and television industry and promote its healthy development. Since then, authorities have stepped up enforcement against tax evasion and irregular income reporting among high-income individuals, particularly in the entertainment sector.

Tax authorities investigated 1,818 high-income individuals, including celebrities and online influencers, in the first 11 months of the year and recovered 1.523 billion yuan in unpaid taxes, an official said at a State Taxation Administration press briefing on December 8, 2025.

Global Times