Kate Garraway 'hit with £716k tax bill' over late husband Derek Draper's company

Kate Garraway has been forced to seek financial help after being hit with a £716,000 tax bill from Derek Draper's company.

The Good Morning Britain star's husband, from Chorley, died at the start of the year after a lengthy battle with Long Covid. The 57-year-old is grappling with the staggering sum after shutting down Derek's psychotherapy firm, Astra Aspera Ltd, which left debts amounting to £184,096.96.

She enlisted the help of specialist firm Hacker Young to manage discussions with HMRC. A source close to Kate confirmed to the Mirror the details but stressed this was tax from Derek's company and Kate was now getting things organised.

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The source said: "Kate has made no secret of her financial issues which include Derek's medical care bills and the collapse of his company. She is now getting the help she needs to help with the tax bill."

Hacker Young specialises in companies and individuals who need help with "tax investigations and litigation support". Hacker Young says of its expertise: "Unfortunately, disputes with HM Revenue and 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 directly to the VAT and 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 £15,000 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."

Back in March in an ITV documentary she told how Derek's medical bills put a huge financial strain on the family. He died at the age of 56 in January, after a lengthy battle with the long-term effects of the coronavirus.

In the documentary, Kate said: "Derek's care costs more than my salary from ITV and that is before you pay for a mortgage, before you pay any household bills, before you pay for anything for the kids, so we are at a crunch point."

"I am in debt. I can't earn enough money to cover my debt because I am managing Derek's care and I can't even use the money I do have to support Derek's recovery, because it's going on the basics all the time."

Kate added: "Listen, I'm not going to pretend that I am poorly paid, I have an incredible job that I love, which is well-paid, but it's not enough."

The Good Morning Britain presenter estimated her debts to be between £500,000-£800,000 at the time.

Speaking when Derek was still alive on the doc, she added: "Derek's care, the basic needs, not including any therapy, which I am happy to pay on top, is nearly £4,000 a week. How can I afford that? How can anybody afford £16,000 a month?"