Largest taxpayers in construction revealed

Construction bigwigs feature prominently in the latest annual update of the UK’s top taxpayers.

The Sunday Times Tax List 2025, which covers tax paid by individuals and families, includes 15 names from the construction sector (see table, below), up from 12 the year before.

In all, sector figures accounted for £540.3m of the £4.99bn in tax paid by the top 100.

There were four new entries this year from the construction world. Eight others saw their ranking rise and only three fell.

The highest-ranking payer was JCB owner Lord Bamford and his family in 11^th place, having paid £121.3m – almost double the previous year’s £67.8m.

Bloor Homes owner John Bloor was 17^th with £121.3m, down from 9^th place in 2024 when he paid £118.1m.

The top taxpayer among contractors was John Murphy and family with £65.1m, ahead of Tim Wates and family (£50.2m).

The Kirkland family, owners of Bowmer & Kirkland, were ranked 49^th with £22.9m in tax paid.

Joanne Conway and family rose 11 places in this year’s list to 52^nd (£22.5m), but the biggest surge came from the Bailey family. The NG Bailey owners rose 39 places to 56^th with £21.1m.

Lower down the list, Keltbray executive chairman Brendan Kerr paid £14.7m in tax, putting him in 77^th place.

Among the other entries from the construction sector this year, Martin Flannery and family of Flannery Plant Hire re-entered the Sunday Times list in equal 50^th place.

MV Kelly founder John Kelly and family entered the list in 59th place, one ahead of Ed Sheeran.

Derek Keys, founder of a firm of digger auctioneers, joined the list in 84^th place.

The other new entrant was Chris Woolridge and family, who own steel galvanising specialist firm Wedge Group. They paid £12.1m in tax and were ranked 88^th.

The Sunday Times analysis was based on accounts filed up to 10 January and includes corporation tax, dividend tax, capital gains tax, income tax, employer’s national insurance tax, and gambling and alcohol duties.