Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler is set to lose nearly half of his £350,000 Premier League Darts prize money to tax, with an estimated bill of £164,500. The 18-year-old, known as 'The Nuke', defeated Luke Humphries 11-10 in the final at The O2 in London on Thursday.
HMRC treats professional prize money as taxable income, meaning Littler's winnings will be subject to the UK's highest tax bracket. As his earnings exceed £125,140, he faces a 45% income tax rate, stripping approximately £157,000 from his prize, plus an estimated £7,000 in National Insurance contributions.
Littler has set up his own limited company to manage his tax burden, as darts professionals are self-employed contractors. He can also offset some costs by claiming allowable business expenses, such as travel, accommodation, and management fees.
Speaking after his emotional victory, Littler admitted to struggling earlier in the season, saying: 'It's been a rollercoaster... I was down bad.' The win caps a remarkable turnaround after he was bottom of the table in the early weeks.
