The Lionesses’ historic Euro 2025 victory is set to deliver a significant windfall not just for the players, but also for the UK taxman, with HMRC expected to receive £788,900 from the team’s prize money, according to analysis by tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.
Each player is expected to receive an average bonus of £73,000, which pushes their earnings above the £125,140 threshold where the highest effective marginal tax rate of 47% applies. That means players could be paying around £34,300 each in combined income tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC), according to Robert Salter, Director at Blick Rothenberg.
“The Lionesses will be delighted with their win at Euro 2025 for what it represents and the hard work that went into it,” Salter said. “But they will have a hefty tax bill to pay to HMRC on their prize money.”
Salter noted that although the Lionesses still earn less than their male counterparts, their tournament bonuses are substantial enough to trigger the UK’s top tax bracket. The 47% figure comprises 45% income tax and 2% employee NIC.
In addition to the tax paid by players, the Football Association (FA) is also expected to face a £255,000 liability in employer NIC on the prize bonuses, further increasing HMRC’s overall take from the team’s success.
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