Luke Littler, the teenage darts sensation, faces an estimated tax bill of £164,500 following his 2026 Premier League Darts victory. The 18-year-old defeated Luke Humphries 11-10 in the final at the O2 in London, earning £350,000 in prize money, while Humphries took home £170,000 as runner-up.
HMRC treats professional prize money as taxable income, and Littler, already in the highest tax bracket, will be taxed at his top marginal rate of 45 per cent. This means approximately £157,000 will be deducted from his winnings for Income Tax, plus an estimated £7,000 in National Insurance contributions, stripping nearly half his jackpot.
Littler has set up his own limited company to help manage his tax burden, as darts professionals are self-employed. He can offset some costs by claiming allowable business expenses, such as travel, accommodation, and management fees, but the estimated bill does not include these deductions.
Speaking after his win, Littler admitted to a difficult season, saying: “It’s been a rollercoaster… I was down bad.” He had considered quitting after poor performances earlier in the year.
