Moneybags Poulter ready to cash in and become Britain's latest tax exile

Ian Poulter is set to save himself at least £1million each year by joining the ranks of Britain’s sporting tax exiles.

The colourful Englishman described the decision as ‘practically a no-brainer’ after
spending no more than 70 days in the UK in each of the last two years.

‘I don’t think anyone likes paying tax and maybe that applies even more when you were earning £200 a week at 19 as an assistant pro,’ said the 32-year-old.

In the money: Ian Poulter will save around £1million a year by becoming a tax exile

‘Giving millions of pounds to the tax man is crazy when you’re spending well below the 90 days you’re permitted in Britain each year as an exile.’

Poulter bought a five-bedroom home near Woburn for £1.5million three years ago but he and his young family are spending an increasing amount of time at their property in Lake Nona in Florida.

‘It will be the same next year,’ confirmed Poulter.

‘We will be in America from December until May and our kids will be entering the U.S. school system. I have people looking at my tax situation at the moment but becoming an exile seems to make the most sense by far.

'All that money I am giving to the tax man I would much rather be giving to my kids in a few years.

'It is a huge sum when you’re not spending any time in Britain and not making use of the facilities.’

The fact that Poulter is now in this income bracket is another indication of how far he has come from the days of selling Mars bars in the pro shop at Chesfield Downs in Hertfordshire.

He has earnings on the course of £1.4m this year but that sum is dwarfed by what he can bring in off it.

The £1m he invested to launch his own clothing range last year is now starting to bring in serious returns, while his fine performance in finishing runner-up at The Open last month merely confirmed to sponsors that he can deliver both inside and outside the ropes.

Florida is popular with wealthy players like Poulter because they pay no state taxes. He is also having a five-bedroom property built in another tax haven — the Bahamas.