HMRC to charge £17 million from Wimbledon bonuses as top winners face a 45% tax hit
While Wimbledon’s champions may lift the iconic silverware next weekend, they will also hand over a large portion of their record bonus to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Accounting firm analysis Blick Rothenberg said HMRC will charge about £17 million from a £53.5 million prize in this year’s tournament, a lucrative wind driven by UK tax rules applicable to international athletes.
Singles champions in men’s and women’s competitions will receive £3 million respectively – an increase of 11% in the highest prize in 2024 – but are expected to lose up to £1.3 million in taxes, with revenues of more than £125,140, but the additional tax rate for the additional 45% of the UK is around £125,140.
Even players who are eliminated in the first round will earn £66,000 – enough to push them to a higher 40% tax rate above £50,271.
Under UK law, overseas athletes must not only pay their bonus tax, but also pay any UK-specific sponsorship income, as well as a percentage of global image rights income, which are considered to be attributed to the time spent in the country.
“These tax rules have made Wimbledon the main cash generator for HMRC,” said Robert Salter, tax expert at Blick Rothenberg. “The prize fund has more than doubled over the past decade, making it a consistent and growing source of income.”
HMRC requires tournament organizers to withhold 20% of core bonuses at the source. However, based on their gross UK income, players may still be responsible for higher interest rates and must file a UK tax return to calculate their ultimate liability.
Although British players are entitled to a standard £12,570 personal allowance – slightly lowering the tax bill, many international athletes do not, resulting in a larger effective tax blow. The analysis also assumes that the bonus is the only UK income for the player, although the recognition income or public appearance can also be taxed.
Certain expenses (such as travel and accommodation) may be considered taxable business expenses because players are considered self-employed for tax purposes.
“Even players with limited sponsorship income usually end up being senior taxpayers,” Salter added. “For those who go deep into the tournament, UK tax is a big factor.”
Wimbledon’s 2025 prize pot is the largest in its history, up 7% from last year’s £50million. Singles semi-finals will receive £775,000, while men’s and women’s doubles champions will share £680,000.
While tax bills may give winners an edge in celebration, they are unlikely to stop the world’s top players from participating in SW19. Wimble remains one of the sport’s most prestigious activities, and for HMRC, it’s a fixture that provides reliable returns.
