Luke Littler, the teenage darts sensation, has been dealt a significant financial blow just moments after his triumphant victory in the 2026 Premier League Darts final. The 19-year-old, who defeated Luke Humphries 11-10 in a thrilling finale at the O2 Arena in London, earned a whopping £350,000 in prize money. However, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is set to claim a substantial portion of that windfall.
The Tax Hit
According to estimates, Littler faces a tax bill of approximately £164,500. This includes around £157,000 in Income Tax at the highest marginal rate of 45 per cent, plus an additional £7,000 in National Insurance contributions. Since Littler already earns well above the £125,140 threshold for the additional rate, every pound of his prize money is subject to this top rate.
This is not the first time Littler has faced such a deduction. Following his UK Open victory in March, he also saw a significant portion of his winnings go to the taxman. Professional darts players are treated as self-employed contractors by HMRC, meaning their prize money is considered taxable income.
Offsetting the Burden
To mitigate the tax impact, Littler has established his own limited company. This allows him to claim allowable business expenses, such as travel, accommodation, and management fees, which can reduce his overall tax liability. However, even with these deductions, the immediate financial hit remains substantial.
Littler's runner-up, Luke Humphries, earned £170,000, which will also be taxed at his marginal rate. The Premier League Darts finals saw the top four players compete, with Littler defeating Gerwyn Price 10-9 in the semi-finals and Humphries overcoming Jonny Clayton by the same scoreline.
Emotional Victory
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, an emotional Littler reflected on his journey: "It's been a rollercoaster, the first four weeks, bottom of the table, and then the fifth night, I won my first night. I had to pick myself up, some tough times, I went to Brighton, I had a 79 average or something and it was tough, I was down bad, but yeah, I'm here with the trophy."
He added: "After Brighton and the incident in Manchester (with Gian van Veen), I was sat at home saying to Faith (Millar, his partner), 'I don't want to do it anymore, just the crowd every week.' I said to her, 'I'm down bad.'"
Despite the tax setback, Littler's victory cements his status as one of darts' brightest stars, with his prize money still representing a life-changing sum even after deductions.
