Yahoo Sport 
The staggering £2.6bn figure that puts Chelsea at the top of Premier League list
Chelsea have been revealed as the biggest income tax contributors in Premier League history.
The Stamford Bridge side have contributed some £2.58bn in employment tax since the Premier League’s formation back in 1992, £40m higher than Manchester United in second, and £240m higher than Manchester City in third place, according to a report published by the International Sports Tax Association (ISTA) in collaboration with football finance expert and Price of Football author Kieran Maguire.
The ‘big six’ make up more than 50% of the combined £25bn-plus that has been collected in tax from Premier League member clubs over the past three decades, with Liverpool at £2.25bn, Arsenal at £1.96bn, and Tottenham Hotspur £1.38bn.
READ MORE: Chelsea already face double fixture change as Enzo Maresca learns Premier League schedule
READ MORE: Premier League opening weekend TV games confirmed as Sky Sports and TNT picks revealed
ISTA Director Sofia Thomas, said; “As our report makes clear, huge sums of money are flowing into the UK economy as a result of the Premier League’s global appeal. This is likely to increase further as more matches and bigger stadiums will drive higher revenues in the future.
“It’s also worth noting that whilst there’s often a lot of negativity around player wages, this ignores the fact that much of this pay goes to the state in the form of employment taxes.”
An additional £6.4bn has been collected over the 30 years on VAT from broadcast and matchday ticket sales, meaning the Premier League has contributed some £32bn combined in taxes.
Maguire, a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, added: “Football has become the biggest ticket in town as demonstrated by Premier League matchday seat occupancy rates of over 98%.
“Whilst clubs have a broader responsibility to sell tickets at affordable prices to fans, there is still scope to increase the tax benefits to the UK from one of its most recognised brands.”
Chelsea’s heavy spend on wages over their three decades as one of English football’s top clubs, where their heavy spend in the Roman Abramovich era changed the landscape of the league, saw them come top of the list.
