Game industry tax rate to align with Baijiu? Several gaming companies respond: false information

On February 3rd, there were market rumors that the financial industry and internet value-added services (such as in-game purchases and advertising) might become the next targets for tax rate adjustments due to their high profit margins and light tax burdens. The rumor drew comparisons to the alcohol tax rate, causing the stock prices of internet companies like Tencent to fall collectively. Previously, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom simultaneously announced that, in accordance with the provisions of the “Announcement on the Specific Scope of VAT Taxation” (Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration Announcement No. 2026-9) issued on January 1st, they would uniformly implement the new VAT rate—raised from the original 6% to 9%. A senior executive from a leading gaming company in Guangdong explicitly told reporters that the rumor was false. (21st Century Business Herald)