While Wimbledon’s champions may lift the iconic silverware next weekend, they’ll also be handing a sizeable portion of their record-breaking prize money to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Analysis by accountancy firm Blick Rothenberg suggests HMRC will collect an estimated £17 million from the £53.5 million prize fund at this year’s tournament — a lucrative windfall driven by UK tax rules applying to international athletes.
The singles champions in both the men’s and women’s events will each receive £3 million – an 11% rise on 2024’s top prize – but are expected to lose up to £1.3 million to tax, with earnings above £125,140 subject to the UK’s top 45% additional rate.
Even players knocked out in the first round will earn £66,000 – enough to push them into the higher 40% tax bracket, which applies above £50,271.
Under UK law, overseas athletes are required to pay tax not only on their prize money, but also on any UK-specific sponsorship earnings and a proportion of global image rights income deemed attributable to time spent in the country.
“These tax rules make Wimbledon a major cash generator for HMRC,” said Robert Salter, tax specialist at Blick Rothenberg. “The prize fund has more than doubled in the last decade, making it a consistent and growing source of revenue.”
HMRC requires tournament organisers to withhold 20% of the core prize money at source. However, players may still be liable for higher rates depending on their total UK earnings, and must submit a UK tax return to calculate their final liability.
While British players are entitled to the standard £12,570 personal allowance – slightly reducing their tax bill – many international athletes are not, leading to a larger effective tax hit. The analysis also assumes prize money is the player’s only UK income, although endorsement earnings or public appearances could also be taxed.
Some costs, such as travel and accommodation, may be claimed as tax-deductible business expenses, as players are considered self-employed for tax purposes.
“Even players with limited sponsorship income typically end up as higher-rate taxpayers,” Salter added. “For those advancing deep into the tournament, UK tax is a significant factor.”
Wimbledon’s 2025 prize pot is the largest in its history, up 7% from last year’s £50m. Singles semi-finalists receive £775,000, while the men’s and women’s doubles champions will share £680,000.
While tax bills might take the edge off the celebrations for the winners, they are unlikely to deter the world’s top players from competing at SW19. Wimbledon remains one of the sport’s most prestigious events — and for HMRC, a fixture that delivers reliable returns.
