100 biggest taxpayers put £5.35billion into Treasury

THE 100 biggest payers of UK tax poured £5.35billion into the public purse last year and JK Rowling, Bernie Ecclestone and Ed Sheeran feature among them.

-  Emily Braeger

Top contributor was Moscow-born financial trader Alex Gerko, 44, who handed over a record £664.5 million.

The personal wealth of the founder of XTX Markets has been previously estimated at £8.5billion.

However, despite a 3% rise in the total, two-thirds of the Sunday Times list paid less tax than in 2022, possibly due to prolonged high inflation and businesses reporting lower profits.

To make the top 100, people had to pay at least £10million to HM Treasury - a £700,000 fall from the previous minimum amount.