UK's third-biggest taxpayer to leave for Greece

A hedge‑fund billionaire identified as one of the United Kingdom’s largest contributors to the exchequer is preparing to relocate his base to Greece, the BBC has learned. Chris Rokos intends to establish an office in Athens, taking advantage of the country’s favourable tax regime for wealthy foreigners whose income is generated abroad. According to The Sunday Times’ ranking of Britain’s top taxpayers, Rokos occupied the third position after contributing £330 million in the previous fiscal year. In March he announced a pledge to donate £190 million to Cambridge University. Requests for comment from Rokos’s representatives were not answered. A spokesperson for the government responded with the statement: “The UK remains an charismatic destination for endowment and investment”. The same official added, “The chancellor has made wealthiness instauration 1 of his apical priorities,” and noted that the United Kingdom offers “a competitory and unchangeable taxation system, heavy superior markets, world‑class universities and a highly skilled workforce”. The motivations behind Rokos’s move have not been disclosed publicly, although the decision was first highlighted by Bloomberg. Analysts point to Greece’s special provision that permits qualifying non‑residents to pay a flat annual levy of €100,000 (approximately £86,000) on all overseas earnings. The timing coincides with the impending first Budget of Chancellor John Healey, scheduled for 28 October. In a BBC interview aired on Monday, Healey declined to rule out possible tax increases in the forthcoming fiscal plan, observing that rising borrowing costs are adding pressure to the nation’s finances. When pressed on specific tax measures, he refused to elaborate, saying only that his aim is to “balance the books” and “control national spending”.