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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Laura Watson

Bet365 boss Denise Coates named UK's biggest taxpayer for third year running

The founder of online gambling giant bet365 has been named as the UK's biggest taxpayer - for a third consecutive year.

Denise Coates and her family - who run the Stoke-on-Trent headquartered business - paid an estimated £481.7 million in tax last year, according to the annual Sunday Times Tax List.

The tax liability - which is attributable to Denise, her father Peter and brother John - includes bet365's corporation tax, employer's national insurance and gambling duties as well as Denise Coates' personal tax.

Reportedly worth around £8.4 billion, the Coates family are just one of 11 individuals and families who paid in excess of £100 million for the 2020/21 tax year.

And while the contribution is around £92 million less than what they paid in 2020, the figure is significantly higher than billionaire banker Chris Rokos who came second place in the tax list after paying £300 million.

Sports Direct owner Stephen Rubin, Fortnum and Mason owner The Weston family and Fred and Peter Done - the brothers behind bookmakers Betfred - were ranked in third, fourth and fifth place after handing over £256 million, £175 million and £169 million in tax respectively.

While The Apprentice host Lord Sugar - who paid £163 million in tax - took sixth place in the top 50 list, which also featured the likes of Ed Sheeran (£12.5 million) David and Victoria Beckham (£7.2 million) and Anthony Joshua (£3.8 million).

Tax list compiler Robert Watts said: "This is a stronger Tax List than last year's – which will be good news for the chancellor. The total take is up by more than £500m."

This year's Sunday Times Tax List top 50 were liable for around £3.69 billion of tax, which is £510 million up from the £3.18 billion paid last year.

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