A reader emailed to ask –

I have seen various figures for the total sum of Tax raised in Scotland varying from £70Billion to £90Billion and remitted directly to Westminster. Is it possible to confirm the exact figure?

In 2024-25, total public sector tax revenue attributed to Scotland was £91.4 billion. This is the latest figure from the Scottish Government’s Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2024-25 report, published 13 August 2025. It covers revenue raised in Scotland through both devolved taxes (controlled by the Scottish Parliament) and reserved taxes (collected and mostly retained by the UK Treasury/HMRC).¹

This leads me to think –

How much do we get back? Allegedly £117.6bn including the share England’s debt we’d never have as a long-term export surplus economy

According to prominent critics (notably economist Richard Murphy in analyses from 2017), 25 out of 26 income/revenue figures in GERS are estimates.²

Are there other sources of wealth in Scotland which contribute to the resources of the UK?

Yes, Scotland contributes to the UK’s overall resources and economy in several ways beyond direct tax revenues. These include economic output (GDP), exports, key industries, investment, and human capital. The main official source for understanding this is the interplay between GERS (for public finances) and GDP/exports data from the Scottish Government and ONS. ³

Does this suggest that compared to other countries which have become independent Scotland has the resources to do even better than most

Yes, in several important respects, Scotland’s current resources and economic position compare favourably to many countries that have become independent in the modern era — suggesting strong potential to achieve (or exceed) the outcomes of many successful small nations.

The data from GERS, GDP, and exports indicate Scotland has more favourable starting resources and human capital than many countries that gained independence and later thrived. This supports the view of strong potential to do well — or even outperform many peers — as an independent nation, especially given its energy transition opportunities and export base.⁴

Sources:

1. https://www.gov.scot/publications/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-2024-25/
2. https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2017/08/25/murphy-on-gers/
3. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2024-0126/
4. https://www.gov.scot/publications/independence-modern-world-wealthier-happier-fairer-not-scotland-summary/