The Sunday Times Tax List reveals the UK’s biggest taxpayers in 2026
The Sunday Times Tax List reveals the UK’s biggest taxpayers in 2026
Home Bargains billionaire Tom Morris is among the United Kingdom’s largest taxpayers. The Morris family, led by founder Tom Morris, paid £209.1 million in tax last year, placing them seventh in The Sunday Times Tax List 2026.
Originally trading as Home and Bargain – a name still fondly used by many Scousers – the discount retailer began as a single store in Old Swan in 1976. It was founded by Tom Morris, then just 21, the son of a Scotland Road shopkeeper. Nearly five decades on, the family-owned business has grown into a nationwide chain with more than 500 stores across the UK.
TJ Morris Ltd, which is the parent company of Home Bargains, has also recently helped to save Zoe’s Place with a £2.5m donation. The company is also teaming up with the builder of the Beetham Tower to construct a high rise development on the outskirts of Liverpool city centre.
Last May, the latest Sunday Times rich list found that Tom Morris is the third-wealthiest person in the North West. His family fortune stood at £6.99bn, which the Sunday Times said makes him the wealthiest ever Scouser.
The 100 wealthy individuals or families revealed in this year’s Sunday Times Tax List were liable for a total of £5.758bn of UK tax last year – up from £4.985bn a year ago. Each of the individuals or families had to have paid £11 million to warrant a place on the Tax List – £500,000 more than in 2025.
The Tax List rankings include corporation tax, dividend tax, capital gains tax, income tax and some payroll taxes as well as gambling and alcohol duties, according to the most recently filed company accounts (January 10). These are calculated in proportion with ownership of the company in question.
For the first time, gambling founders Fred and Peter Done of Betfred top the rankings, with an estimated contribution of £400.1 million, up from £273.4 million a year ago. The brothers founded the company in 1967 and it is headquartered in Warrington, Cheshire.
Former One Direction star Harry Styles is a new entry at number 54, paying £24.7 million.
Also appearing for the first time are two footballers: Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (number 72), who earns £500,000 a week plus £10 million in extras, with an estimated tax payment of £16.9 million, and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah (number 81), whose £400,000-a-week basic salary plus an estimated £10 million in bonuses and additional payments results in a tax bill of £14.5 million.
Other familiar names on the list include Harry Potter author JK Rowling (number 36, £47.5 million or £130,000 a day), stadium-filling musician Ed Sheeran (number 64, £19.9 million) and heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua (number 100, £11 million).
Six taxpayers on the list have left the UK in the past year and a further eight have been based offshore for longer. This includes Nik Storonsky, Malcolm Healey, and Eddie Hearn. If these people were still based in the UK they’d be liable for personal tax as well as business tax.
Robert Watts, the compiler of The Sunday Times Tax List, said: “The Sunday Times Tax List features household names as well as some of our economy’s hidden heroes, quietly successful entrepreneurs who have set up companies employing hundreds of people and plugging vast sums into the public finances.
“This is an increasingly diverse list with Premier League footballers and world famous pop stars lining up alongside aristocrats and business owners selling pies, pillows and baby milk.
“This year there’s been a big jump in the amount of tax we’ve identified — largely because of higher corporation tax rates. All of the 100 individuals and families who appear delivered at least £11 million to the Exchequer over the past year.
“Fourteen of the entries paid at least £100 million.”
