Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler is set to lose nearly half of his £350,000 prize money from the 2026 Premier League Darts victory to tax and National Insurance. The 18-year-old, known as 'The Nuke', defeated Luke Humphries 11-10 in the final at the O2 in London.
HMRC treats professional prize money as taxable income, meaning Littler's winnings will be taxed at his top marginal rate of 45 per cent, stripping approximately £157,000. An additional two per cent National Insurance contribution of around £7,000 brings the total estimated deduction to £164,500. Humphries received £170,000 as runner-up.
Littler, who has set up a limited company to manage his tax affairs, can offset some costs through allowable business expenses such as travel, accommodation, and management fees. However, the 45 per cent rate applies to earnings above £125,140, so every pound he earns for the rest of the year will be liable.
After his win, an emotional Littler told Sky Sports: 'It's been a rollercoaster... I had to pick myself up, some tough times... I was down bad, but yeah, I'm here with the trophy.' He also revealed he considered quitting after a poor performance in Brighton and an incident in Manchester.
