An official from the board said, based on a sampling analysis, about 50% of celebrities, comprising actors, directors, radio deejays and models, did not submit their Borang B or tax return form.

“We are looking into everyone who does not pay tax, but live luxuriously,” he said.

The board warned tax evaders they would face the court if they refused to exercise their taxpayers’ responsibilities.

“We will file lawsuits against them if they do not pay up,” the official said.

In case they do not furnish their Borang B, IRB can determine how much they can be taxed.

“Under Section 90(3) of the Income Tax Act, the director-general can decide the amount chargeable for a person in a tax year and he or she can be assessed accordingly,” the official added.

In an immediate reaction, actor-screenwriter Khir Rahman and television host Daphne Iking said as Malaysians, they fulfilled their responsibilities in contributing taxes to the country.

“I will pay the government as long as I am earning a living,” the “Rock!” trilogy movie actor said.

Khir, however, said it was wrong for the board to say celebrities were living high-end lives.

“We may look glamorous from the outside, but we have to bear a lot of costs, including for self grooming,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iking said paying taxes was unavoidable.

“In life, we cannot run away from paying taxes and death. I have been paying my taxes since I started working,” she said.

Iking, who is also a columnist, said celebrities who evaded filing their tax return forms were probably ignorant of the consequences.

“They may not know the severity of not paying taxes or think they can run away from the taxman,” she said.

Iking added that those who were taxed a huge sum, could go to any IRB office to ask for their taxes to be paid in instalments.

“I pay my taxes in a three-month instalment. It is better this way as I do not feel the pinch of paying a large sum,” she said.

Actor and Persatuan Seniman Malaysia (Seniman) president Rozaidi Abdul Jamil, commonly known as Zed Zaidi, said not all celebrities were well-to-do or their earnings taxable.

“Only 10% of us have managed to create a household name and are highly paid while others are poor,” he said.

He added that not all celebrities were fully employed and the job prospects in the industry were dim.

“We are not fully employed. How can we know how much we earn every month?” he asked.

Rozaidi also said not all artistes could afford someone to manage their finances.

“Our talents are limited to singing and acting. We have no ‘talents’ in managing wealth.”

He also said when artistes were offered jobs, they could get RM15,000 for three months.

“In that period, we have to deduct cost for apparel, make-up products and petrol, and what remains is between RM3,000 and RM4,000.

“But what happens if we are not employed after the three-month period?” he asked.