Tax shock: More than HALF of British households get more in benefits than they pay HMRC - 'Richest 10% footing the bill!'

For the first time in history, more than 50 per cent of homes in Britain receive more in benefits than they pay in tax.

The new study, which includes "benefits in kind", such as access to schools and the NHS, says the richest 10 per cent of people foot most of the benefits bill.

They pay three times as much income tax as the bottom 60 per cent according to Civitas, the think tank behind the research.

The top 20 percent of earners on average pay £35,000 more in taxes than they received in public spending.

While the bottom 40 per cent see an average of £23,000 a year in cash benefits and “benefits in kind”.

The report has caused outrage among some Tory MPs, who have described the tax system as “unfair”.

Ashfield MP Lee Anderson said: "Over half the households in Britain get more from the state than they pay in tax, while the top 10 per cent of earners account for 53 per cent of all income tax.

"We cannot have less than 50 per cent of the population supporting the majority. It's just not fair."

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith added: "Some interesting stats here. More needs to be done to remove disincentives to work."

The Treasury say the current high tax burden is due to a combination of factors including the pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine.

On March 15, the Spring Budget is set to be revealed by Jeremy Hunt.

Last week, Rishi Sunak slapped down talk of any major cuts going ahead.

He said only “idiots” would think income tax will be slashed this year, in a swipe at some of his own MPs.