South West's Top Taxpayer; Sir Tim Martin Leads with £170 Million Bill

2025-01-25

Wetherspoon magnate Sir Tim Martin has topped the list of the South West’s biggest taxpayers, with a staggering £170 million tax bill for the year. The 69-year-old founder of JD Wetherspoon, who resides in Devon, outpaces other prominent figures in the region, including Specsavers’ founders Dame Mary and Douglas Perkins, tech mogul Sir James Dyson, and Plymouth’s retail tycoon Chris Dawson.

Martin ranks eighth in the Sunday Times Tax List 2025, which highlights the UK’s top 100 taxpayers. Despite dropping from his previous position, his tax liability has risen by nearly £3 million in a year and a remarkable £47 million since 2023. This increase comes as JD Wetherspoon reported pre-tax profits of £73.9 million last year, a significant jump of over £30 million, driven by a 7.6% rise in like-for-like sales and a 5.7% increase in revenue, surpassing £2 billion. The chain now operates more than 900 pubs across the UK.

Other notable taxpayers in the region include Dame Mary and Douglas Perkins, who paid £108 million in tax, placing them 13th nationally. Meanwhile, Sir James Dyson and his family saw their tax contributions drop from £156 million to £103 million, falling to 15th place. The Dyson company has been undergoing cost-cutting measures, including plans to lay off 1,000 UK workers last year.

The Sunday Times Tax List, which currently only includes the top 20 taxpayers, is expected to feature additional South West figures when the full list is published. Among them are Nigel Spokes and his family, owners of the Exeter-based Scot Group, who paid £31.7 million in tax last year, and John Gregory of Gregory Distribution, with a tax liability of £12.4 million.

The overall tax contributions of the UK’s wealthiest individuals and families have declined by 7% compared to the previous year, totalling £4.985 billion. Robert Watts, the compiler of the Tax List, noted that the decrease reflects weaker economic performance and reduced profitability among companies owned by the super-rich.

Wetherspoon mogul Tim Martin's massive tax bill revealed

Pub chain founder tops list of South West's biggest taxpayers

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