How much tax does the UK collect?
The UK government collected £1,209 billion in 2025-26: about £17,397 for every person in the UK. The biggest sources were income tax (£327bn), National Insurance (£201bn) and VAT (£180bn).
Taxes and other income of the whole public sector, 2025-26. That is 39% of GDP.
27% of everything collected.
National Insurance £201bn and VAT £180bn.
Where the money came from, 2025-26
HMRC’s main taxes, with the change on the year before in cash terms. See where your own tax goes →
| Source | Collected | Share of the total | Per person | Change on the year before |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income tax | £326.9bn | 27.0% | £4,705 | +8.0% |
| National Insurance | £200.8bn | 16.6% | £2,890 | +16.4% |
| VAT | £179.9bn | 14.9% | £2,589 | +5.2% |
| Corporation tax | £95.1bn | 7.9% | £1,369 | +4.6% |
| Fuel duties | £24.6bn | 2.0% | £353 | +0.8% |
| Everything else (council tax, business rates, other taxes and income) | £271.0bn | 22.4% | £3,901 | – |
Tax and other income over time
What’s this?
Taxes and other income collected by the public sector, as a share of the economy.
What it cannot tell you: It does not show who pays the tax, or how tax rates have changed.
Questions people ask
How much tax does the UK collect?
The public sector collected £1,209 billion in 2025-26, mostly in taxes. That is about 39% of the whole economy.
What is the biggest tax in the UK?
Income tax: £327bn in 2025-26, 27% of the money collected.
How much does the UK raise from VAT?
£180bn in 2025-26, about £2,589 for every person in the UK.
How much does the UK raise from corporation tax?
£95bn in 2025-26, paid by companies on their profits.
Is the government collecting more than it spends?
No. It spent £1,360bn in 2025-26, so it borrowed £151bn. See what it spent the money on.
Sources: HMRC tax receipts and the HM Treasury and ONS public finances, 2025-26. Latest published outturn; it can be revised. Updated every night.
See also: Where does my tax go? · Where the money comes from and goes · UK government spending · UK national debt