IT bosses ensure Esher is top income tax hotspot

Celebrities and IT executives are to blame for the leafy Surrey suburb of Esher being the highest income tax hotspot, a parliamentary constituency analysis by an accountant suggests.

In fact, residents of Esher and Walton – home to Gary Lineker, Mick Hucknall and Chris Tarrant, had an unparalleled average income tax bill of £16,900 last year, says UHY Hacker Young.

Up 8% on the previous 12 months, the tax bill is almost four times the national average, and is typically paid on annual income of £59,600, compared with a national average salary of £27,200.

A "large contingent" of technology executives live in Esher, said the accountant, as do many “high earning expats” who, like the IT execs, are known to value its proximity to Heathrow over its well-regarded schools and colleges.

“Many parliamentary constituencies across the South East, and Esher in particular, are a real hotspot for the taxman,” said UHY’s head of client services Mark Giddens.

“In an election year, this could well be a delicate area for political candidates in those areas to navigate. Whether residents of Esher will relish the title of most highly income–taxed area of Britain is doubtful.”

According to the accountant, Tatton in Cheshire is the only top 10 highest income tax constituency that is outside the South East; where the average paid to HMRC is £10,500. The top 30 income tax hotspots are listed in the table below.

**Aggregated figures