In 2025/26, the government of the United Kingdom is expected to receive 1.2 trillion British pounds of public sector current receipts, with 329 billion British pounds coming from income tax, as well as 214 billion pounds from VAT. Other substantial sources of income include Corporation Tax, predicted to raise 105 billion pounds, and Council Tax, which will raise around 50 billion pounds. Government revenue falls short of spending Overall government revenue in 2023/24 amounted to approximately 1.13 trillion pounds, but with the government spending around 1.28 trillion pounds, the UK borrowed almost 152 billion pounds to cover its costs. As a consequence, the UK's national debt increased from 2.69 trillion pounds in 2022/23, to 2.81 trillion pounds in 2023/24, almost 100 per cent of GDP. Financing this debt is becoming increasingly burdensome for UK government finances, with the UK spending more on debt interest than on defence, transport, and public order and safety. Impact of COVID-19 on revenue sources Income received from some of the UK's typical revenue sources were severely depleted at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2018/19, for example, VAT raised around 132.5 billion pounds, with receipts falling to 129.9 billion pounds in 2019/20, and just 101.7 billion pounds in 2020/21. Corporation Tax, fell from 61.6 billion pounds in 2019/20, to 50.5 billion pounds in 2020/21, while revenue from Air Passenger Duties declined from 3.64 billion pounds in 2019/20, to just 590 million pounds in 2020/21, and just over one billion pounds in 2021/22.

The United Kingdom's government revenue was just over 1.13 trillion British pounds in 2024/25, compared with just under 1.1 trillion in 2023/24.

Public sector revenue for each country and region of the UK.

In 2024/25 the value of tax receipts for the United Kingdom amounted to approximately 840 billion British pounds. Tax receipts form the bulk of UK government income, based on various direct and indirect taxes. Although tax income has gradually increased throughout most of this period, there is a noticeable dip in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tax revenue sources Of the revenue generated by taxation in 2024/25, over 301 billion of this came from Income Tax receipts, which was the main source of direct tax income for the government. After income tax, the next most substantial direct tax were contributions from National Insurance, which amounted to just over 172.5 billion pounds of tax revenue. The UK's main goods and services tax; Value-added Tax (VAT) amounted to 170.6 billion pounds, while Corporation Tax receipts raised 91.6 billion pounds. Although other smaller direct and indirect taxes produce notable income, these four sources were by far the main sources of income in the previous financial year. UK government finances While taxes and other sources of income raised more than 1.13 trillion pounds in 2024/25, the UK government expenditure was around 1.28 trillion pounds. This gap between revenue and expenditure was financed via government borrowing, which amounted to almost 152 billion pounds. As the UK government has been spending more than it earns for several years, this has resulted in a significant government debt of 2.8 trillion pounds building up, the equivalent of just under 96 percent of GDP in 2024/25.

In 2024/25 receipts from capital gains tax in the United Kingdom amounted to just over ***billion British pounds, compared with *****billion pounds in the previous year the previous year.

Key information about United Kingdom Tax Revenue

• UK Tax Revenue was reported at 256.268 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• This is a decrease from the previous figure of 266.877 USD bn for Sep 2024.
• UK Tax Revenue data is updated quarterly, averaging 68.866 USD bn from Mar 1957 to Dec 2024, with 272 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 293.309 USD bn in Mar 2024 and a record low of 3.111 USD bn in Jun 1957.
• UK Tax Revenue data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Tax Revenue: USD: Quarterly.

CEIC calculates quarterly Tax Revenue as the sum of Taxes on Income and Wealth, Taxes on Production, Other Current Taxes and Taxes on Capital and converts it into USD. Office for National Statistics provides Tax Revenue in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

Average annual incomes, taxes and benefits, and household characteristics of retired and non-retired households in the UK. Data for financial years, by quintile and decile groups, country and region and tenure type.

Key information about UK Tax revenue: % of GDP

• United Kingdom Tax revenue: % of GDP was reported at 27.3 % in Dec 2024.
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.4 % for Sep 2024.
• UK Tax revenue: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, averaging 25.7 % from Mar 1955 to Dec 2024, with 280 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 44.2 % in Mar 1955 and a record low of 19.9 % in Jun 1960.
• UK Tax revenue: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Tax Revenue: % of Nominal GDP: Quarterly.

CEIC calculates quarterly Tax Revenue as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Tax Revenue and quarterly Nominal GDP. Tax Revenue is calculated as the sum of Taxes on Income and Wealth, Taxes on Production, Other Current Taxes and Taxes on Capital. Office for National Statistics provides Tax Revenue in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency.

Main tables from the Effects of taxes and benefits on household income publication from 1977, including average incomes, taxes and benefits and household characteristics of all, retired and non-retired households in the UK by quintile and decile groups.

United Kingdom UK: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Taxes on Income: Profits and Capital Gains: % of Revenue data was reported at 33.676 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 32.988 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Taxes on Income: Profits and Capital Gains: % of Revenue data is updated yearly, averaging 38.098 % from Dec 1972 (Median) to 2016, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44.420 % in 1975 and a record low of 32.852 % in 2013. United Kingdom UK: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Taxes on Income: Profits and Capital Gains: % of Revenue data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Government Revenue, Expenditure and Finance. Taxes on income, profits, and capital gains are levied on the actual or presumptive net income of individuals, on the profits of corporations and enterprises, and on capital gains, whether realized or not, on land, securities, and other assets. Intragovernmental payments are eliminated in consolidation.; ; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.; Median;

Provides monthly and quarterly information on all HMRC taxes, including tax receipts, the number of taxpayers, personal tax credits, child benefit and estimates of the cost of tax expenditures and structural relief.

Source agency: HM Revenue and Customs

Designation: National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: Revenue Based Taxes

Provides receipts information for UK oil and gas production, covering all historical duties levied on companies participating in this ring fence regime, including ring fence Corporation Tax (RFCT), supplementary charge (SC), Petroleum Revenue Tax (PRT) and royalties. Previously listed under 'Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Corporate Tax'.

Source agency: HM Revenue and Customs

Designation: National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: Government Revenue from UK Oil and Gas Production

Tax revenue from customs duty receipts in the United Kingdom amounted to ****billion British pounds in 2024/25, compared with ****billion pounds in the previous year.

United Kingdom UK: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Tax Revenue data was reported at 502,551.000 GBP mn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 475,201.000 GBP mn for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Tax Revenue data is updated yearly, averaging 177,335.000 GBP mn from Dec 1972 (Median) to 2016, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 502,551.000 GBP mn in 2016 and a record low of 15,665.000 GBP mn in 1972. United Kingdom UK: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Tax Revenue data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Government Revenue, Expenditure and Finance. Tax revenue refers to compulsory transfers to the central government for public purposes. Certain compulsory transfers such as fines, penalties, and most social security contributions are excluded. Refunds and corrections of erroneously collected tax revenue are treated as negative revenue.; ; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.; ;