British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a former investment banker often accused by his opponents of being out of touch with the real lives of the British, paid more than half a million pounds (595,000 euros) in taxes per year. last, according to documents published Friday February 9 by Downing Street.
According to these statements, Rishi Sunak, who arrived at Downing Street at the end of 2022, earned income of 2.2 million pounds (2.58 million euros) in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, an increase of 13% over a year.
Only 6% of this income (around 140,000 pounds, or 164,000 euros) comes from his emoluments as deputy and prime minister, the bulk - 1.8 million pounds - coming from capital income (capital gains, investment income , etc.).
The rest is made up of interest and dividends (nearly 300,000 pounds).
“Blind trust”
According to these figures, Rishi Sunak therefore paid an overall tax rate of 23%, capital income being taxed much less in the United Kingdom than earned income.
This capital income comes from an investment fund based in the United States, brought together in a
“blind trust”
, a structure used by people holding public office to have their private assets managed independently.
A former investment banker, Rishi Sunak is also married to Akshata Murty, an Indian national and heiress to a wealthy entrepreneur, founder of the Indian technology giant Infosys.
The couple's fortune has already sparked controversy, after the press revealed that his wife benefited from an advantageous tax status.
A parliamentary investigation had also noted shortcomings in his declaration of interests, linked to his wife's participation in a childcare company, but it had exempted him from sanctions.
The couple's wealth is often highlighted by the Prime Minister's opponents, who believe that it disconnects him from the daily concerns of the British, in the midst of a cost of living crisis.