Overview
- John Charlton told talkSPORT on July 30, 2026 that HMRC is seeking about £200,000 in inheritance tax linked to his late father’s 1966 World Cup winners’ medal and that he has given the medal back to his mother to avoid an immediate bill.
- The medal was left to John in Jack Charlton’s will; the family says other items from the tournament, including Jack’s final shirt and a single England cap, are kept in a secure place.
- The precise tax demand and the medal’s valuation remain contested, with earlier reporting in 2024 saying HMRC had valued Jack Charlton’s medal and kit at between £100,000 and £200,000 and initially sought about £80,000 in tax.
- Under UK rules, inheritance tax is charged at 40% on an estate’s value above a £325,000 threshold and exemptions that apply to military medals do not normally cover civilian sporting awards, leaving families exposed to large bills.
- A Daily Mirror journalist is working with the family to clarify the case, which John says could affect other athletes’ heirs and may prompt challenges to HMRC valuations or calls for policy change.