Tax Checklist 2026: JK Rowling and Harry Kinds characteristic as billionaire brothers take high spot

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra The annual Sunday Instances Tax Checklist has revealed the UK’s 100 greatest taxpayers, with playing magnates Fred and Peter Achieved of Betfred topping the rankings for the primary time, surpassing a number of musicians, entrepreneurs, and sporting icons.

Celebrities equivalent to JK Rowling, Mo Salah, and Harry Kinds additionally featured prominently.

The billionaire brothers, who established their Warrington-based enterprise in 1967, contributed an estimated £400.1m in tax over the previous yr.

This important sum marks a close to 50 per cent improve from their earlier yr’s invoice of £273.4m.

Their elevated tax funds, together with many others on the record, are attributed to modifications in company tax charges and different fiscal changes applied by the Labour authorities, geared toward bolstering welfare spending.

Collectively, the highest 100 taxpayers paid a staggering £5.758bn in tax, a considerable rise from £4.985bn recorded the earlier yr.

Robert Watts, who compiles the record, famous its growing variety, stating: “That is an more and more various record, with Premier League footballers and world-famous pop stars lining up alongside aristocrats and enterprise house owners promoting pies, pillows and child milk.

“This yr there’s been a giant bounce within the quantity of tax we’ve recognized – largely due to greater company tax charges.”

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Betfred co-owner Fred Achieved topped the rankings alongside his brother (PA Wire) Past the Achieved brothers, monetary buying and selling entrepreneur Alex Gerko secured second place with a £331.4m tax contribution, intently adopted by hedge fund boss Chris Rokos, who paid £330m.

Among the many new entries to the celebrated record was former One Route star Harry Kinds, whose tax cost reached £24.7m.

Footballing expertise additionally made their mark, with Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland debuting at quantity 72 with an estimated £16.9m tax invoice, and Liverpool’s Mo Salah contributing an estimated £14.5m.

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Different acquainted names included Harry Potter writer JK Rowling, ranked thirty sixth with a £47.5m invoice, and musician Ed Sheeran, at sixty fourth place with a £19.9m tax cost.

Nevertheless, the record additionally highlighted a rising pattern of rich people departing the UK.

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Harry Kinds is on the Sunday Instances Tax Checklist for the primary time (PA Archive) Six taxpayers featured regardless of having left the nation over the previous yr, amid hypothesis that strikes had been made to keep away from greater taxes underneath Labour or because of the elimination of non-dom standing.

These people included Revolut founder Nik Storonsky, Wren Kitchens founder Malcolm Healey, and sports activities promoter Eddie Hearn.

Mr Watts commented on this exodus, observing: “One in 9 of the individuals who make the tax record are now not listed as resident right here within the UK, as a substitute selecting to stay in Morocco, Dubai, Switzerland, Cyprus, Portugal, the US and the Channel Islands.

“Clearly, the tax listers who've moved offshore are nonetheless delivering big sums to HM Treasury by means of their companies, however the Chancellor would little question be elevating much more cash from these folks had they chosen to remain put and stay liable for private tax right here.”