HM Revenue & Customs is expected to net a significant tax windfall from this year’s Wimbledon Championships, as the tournament’s ever-increasing prize pot pushes more players into higher UK tax brackets.
According to tax experts at Blick Rothenberg, Wimbledon is becoming an increasingly lucrative revenue stream for HMRC, thanks to the structure of international tax rules and the tournament’s soaring prize fund. In 2025, the total prize money will rise by a further 7%, capping a decade in which the Wimbledon prize fund has doubled.
“Wimbledon continues to be a lucrative source of taxes for HMRC,” said Robert Salter, Director at Blick Rothenberg. “Not only are the tournament winnings taxable, but the Wimbledon Prize Fund has doubled over the last 10 years, with 2025 alone seeing a further 7% increase.”
Although most of the players competing at Wimbledon are non-UK tax residents, under international tax rules they are still liable to pay UK tax on their earnings from the tournament, including match winnings, sponsorship-related activities, and a share of image rights and marketing revenues generated while in the country.
“While most of the players at Wimbledon will not be tax resident in the UK, the tax rules applying to international sports people mean that they will be fully taxable in the UK on their winnings,” Salter explained. “This includes any additional UK-specific fees which they might get while in the UK for appearing at sponsor events, and a share of their wider image and marketing fees.”
Tournament organisers are required to withhold tax at a flat rate of 20% from players’ core prize money. But with first-round losers in both the Men’s and Women’s Singles events receiving £66,000, well above the £50,000 threshold at which the 40% tax band begins, most players will be required to file UK tax returns and pay additional tax on their income.
“Even players with little or no image rights income will usually end up in the higher-rate tax band and will need to submit an annual UK tax return,” Salter added.
This year’s event is not only a highlight for tennis fans but also a boost for the Treasury, which benefits handsomely from top-tier international sporting events. Alongside Wimbledon, other global showcases such as The Open Championship in golf also provide a reliable stream of tax revenue tied to elite sport.
“Leading professional events such as Wimbledon, or the Open Championship in July, aren’t just a ‘win’ for sports fans,” Salter said. “They are a win for the Revenue’s coffers too.”
With players competing for titles, prestige and increasingly generous payouts, the UK government will also be celebrating—quietly—from the sidelines.
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Increase in Wimbledon prize money will provide HMRC with a bumper tax take this year
