DESPERATE Kate Garraway has been forced to ask for help after being saddled with a £716,000 tax bill from Derek Draper’s company.
The Good Morning Britain presenter has called on a firm of specialists to help her cope with the fresh set of crippling fees, which came after she closed her late husband’s firm.
Kate, 57, this week revealed she had raided her personal pension fund to help clear the eye watering £800k debt of covering Derek’s medical and care bills as he fought Covid.
Now she has engaged London financial experts Hacker Young to handle discussions with HMRC.
The firm specialises in companies and individuals who need help with "tax investigations and litigation support".
Derek's psychotherapy company Astra Aspera Ltd was shut down with £184,096.96 of debt and its closure landed her with the £716,000 tax bill.
A company run by Kate called Praespero 100 Ltd saw its assets fall by £87,043 in 2022, according to most recent accounts.
She has been left financially crippled by Derek’s bills, which totalled £16,000 a month just for his basic care and mobility support.
A source close to Kate said: “It’s no secret that Kate has had a lot of financial burdens to deal with including Derek’s medical and care bills and the inevitable collapse of Derek’s company.
“Kate has wisely sought some help and is working with a team to help guide her through addressing all these debts as speedily as possible.”
Hacker Young says of its expertise: "Unfortunately, disputes with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) do arise and appear to be increasing at an alarming rate.
"Often, the matter can be resolved relatively quickly. Where it can’t, we can advise you on the alternatives open to you and the merits and chances of success with each.
"We will advise you, warts-and-all, bearing in mind that cost is an important factor for you.
"Should you need advice in deciding whether to seek a local reconsideration of HMRC’s decision or to lodge an appeal direct to the VAT & Duties Tribunal, we will be there to guide you and assist where needed."
It comes after Kate this week revealed on GMB that she’d been forced to cash in her pension.
She told a guest, who has had to pay £15k for their own private healthcare: “You need every penny of that pension. I'm doing something similar myself. I've just had to withdraw the bit you can tax-free for my pension to pay belated bills for my husband that passed away.
“I am ashamed of the fact that I am in debt because I have an incredible job that I love, that's very well paid.
“I’m not a carer travelling miles, paying their own transport to go and help somebody for minimum wage. I’m somebody that is very well paid and so I just feel a shame that I couldn’t make it work.”
