Yes, Virat Kohli pays income tax in India and is one of the country's highest individual taxpayers. For the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), he was reported to be the highest tax-paying sportsperson in India, contributing a massive ₹66 crore in taxes. His tax payments stem from his earnings as a cricketer, brand endorsements, and business investments.
1. Virat Kohli – ₹66 Crore. Former Indian captain Virat Kohli leads the list with a staggering tax payment of ₹66 crore in 2023-24. Despite stepping down from captaincy roles, Kohli remains a top brand in Indian sports and entertainment.
Maximum marginal rate is the highest rate of tax at any income level. This means for those with incomes between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, 39% will be the highest applicable tax rate, and for those with incomes above Rs 5 crore, it will be 42.74% — the highest tax rate since 1992.
Amitabh Bachchan has become India's highest tax- paying celebrity for FY 2024-25, surpassing Shah Rukh Khan and Thalapathy Vijay. As per reports, Big B paid a whopping ₹120 crore in taxes—marking a 69% increase from last year. 📈
Reliance Industries
RIL paid the highest tax with a sum of Rs. 20,713 crore in taxes during the financial year 2022-23.
The Highest Individual Taxpayer – Mr Amitabh Bachchan
1 spot on this list by paying a huge amount of Rs. 120 crore as tax. The superstar earned an approximate amount of Rs350 crore in the financial year 2024-25 from various sources.
In India, the 30% income tax rate generally applies to individuals earning above ₹24 Lakhs (under the old regime/default for some) or ₹15 Lakhs (under the new optional regime for FY 2025-26) and to firms (as a flat rate), while certain income types like lottery winnings, online gaming, and virtual digital assets (like crypto) are taxed at a flat 30% for everyone, regardless of total income.
🚨 Top 10 richest actors in India in 2025.
In her 2025 Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shared big news. Under the new regime, if you earn up to Rs 12 lakh, you will not have to pay any income tax. Salaried taxpayers get an extra benefit too. The standard deduction, which was Rs 50,000 before, has now gone up to Rs 75,000 for the new regime.
According to government reports, while over 7 crore people file tax returns, only a fraction of them actually pay taxes because many fall below the taxable income threshold or use deductions to reduce liability.
While both are incredibly wealthy, Virat Kohli generally has a slightly higher estimated net worth than MS Dhoni, with figures in 2024-2025 placing Kohli around ₹1,050-₹1,090 crore and Dhoni around ₹1,000-₹1,060 crore, though figures vary by source and year. Both earn substantial income from salaries, massive brand endorsements (like Puma, Audi for Kohli, and various ventures for Dhoni), IPL contracts, and business investments, but Kohli's higher profile and endorsements often give him a slight edge in reports, though Sachin Tendulkar remains the richest Indian cricketer overall.
Since the introduction of IPL, BCCI's revenue has jumped multiple folds. While the board is exempted from taxes, the IPL players and teams are considered as independent entities and have to pay taxes!
Kohli's net worth is estimated at around $115 million, bolstered by his endorsement deals, business ventures, and IPL earnings. Sachin Tendulkar, with 200 Tests, 463 ODIs, and 1 T20I, has over 100 international centuries to his name and is the only player to score 100 international centuries.
Talented actress Juhi Chawla has surpassed Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Priyanka Chopra to become India's richest actress! With a net worth of Rs 4,500 crore, she's also a wealthy actress, boasting a wealth of talent, beautiful films, and a rich career.
Examples of income that are not taxable in India include agricultural income, gifts and inheritances, interest on EPF and PPF, scholarships and awards, life insurance proceeds, leave encashment, gratuity, Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG), and interest on tax-free bonds.
Earning Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 30 lakhs per annum in India is a good salary. It is above the median income in India, which is around Rs 12 lakhs per annum. This means that you are earning more than most people in India. The cost of living in India varies depending on the city and lifestyle.
$1.4 billion and counting — Shah Rukh Khan stands as the world's richest actor, according to the Hurun India Rich List 2025! #IIFA #bollywood #shahrukhkhan. [IIFA, Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, SRK, Bollywood Actor, viral]
1. Wesley Snipes – Ignoring Tax Obligations Doesn't Work. One of the most infamous celebrity tax cases involves actor Wesley Snipes, who was sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion. Snipes failed to file tax returns for several years, owing millions to the IRS.
Here's an overview of the tax payments and financial status of Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra, Saif Ali Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Shahid Kapoor: Priyanka Chopra Tax Payments: Priyanka Chopra is known for her substantial tax contributions. In 2019, it was reported that she paid around ₹12 crore in taxes.