Denise Coates, the founder of gambling empire Bet365, has been named the UK's biggest taxpayer for the 2018-19 tax year, according to the Sunday Times Tax List. She and her family paid an estimated £276 million, far ahead of second-placed Stephen Rubin, owner of a sportswear group including Speedo and Berghaus, who paid £143.9 million. Sir James Dyson came third with £103 million.
JK Rowling entered the top 50 for the first time with an estimated £48.6 million tax bill. The Harry Potter author has previously stated she makes a conscious decision to pay full taxes in the UK, refusing to live in 'the limbo of some tax haven' and criticising 'greedy tax exiles'. Her payment includes £47 million in income tax and national insurance on royalties of about £100 million, plus £1.6 million in taxes on her Pottermore business.
The list, compiled from publicly available financial documents, considers corporation tax, dividend tax, capital gains tax, income tax, and payroll taxes. However, the Sunday Times acknowledged it does not track every pound of tax paid, stating that in most cases it is merely tax visible from scanning public statements.
Finance and retail dominate the list, alongside aristocratic families with inherited wealth. The Duke of Westminster, aged 29 with a £10.1 billion fortune, paid £69.3 million, ranking seventh. Earl Cadogan and family, also London property owners, paid £49.1 million on their £6.85 billion fortune.
Many international billionaires living in London, such as the Hindujas, Blavatniks, and Mittals, were absent from the list as they have minimal taxable businesses in the UK. Few entertainers made the cut; Lewis Hamilton and Ed Sheeran did not feature prominently. Among Brexit supporters, Lord Bamford and family (JCB) were tenth with £58 million, Peter Hargreaves 21st with £44.8 million, and Tim Martin (JD Wetherspoon) 33rd with £29.9 million.
