Audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg has warned that despite not being UK tax residents, both the Italian men’s singles champion and the Polish women’s winner will face substantial tax liabilities on their UK earnings.
Robert Salter, Director at Blick Rothenberg, explained that while the players may not live in the UK, their £3 million Wimbledon prize money is still taxable under HMRC rules, alongside elements of their commercial income.
“Wimbledon will be obliged to operate withholding tax, at a flat rate of 20%, on the prize money that they pay to these stars,” said Salter. “However, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek will ultimately be taxed in the UK at the top rate of 45% on their winnings—less any allowable business expenses they can deduct.”
In addition to their prize earnings, a portion of each player’s image rights income may also fall under the UK tax net, as HMRC considers this to be partly sourced from their presence and publicity during the tournament.
Salter added that while international tax law gives HMRC a clear legal basis to tax non-resident athletes on UK-sourced earnings, the UK’s system remains one of the least favourable for global sports stars.
“Many countries—including Germany—offer far more generous tax treatment to travelling athletes,” he said. “The UK’s relatively punitive regime has previously deterred stars like Usain Bolt and Rafael Nadal from participating in certain UK events, due to the financial impact.”
That said, Wimbledon remains one of the most prestigious events in the global sporting calendar, and its profile continues to attract top-tier athletes despite the associated tax burden.
While the organisers benefit from unparalleled visibility and global recognition, the players are left to weigh the cost of glory against their HMRC bill. For champions like Sinner and Swiatek, a Grand Slam title may be priceless—but the taxman still takes a significant share.
Jamie Young
Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the 'covid era' and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine's coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at jyoung@cbmeg.co.uk
