Kate Garraway has been ‘hit with a huge tax bill’ while caring for Derek Draper (Picture: ITV)
Kate Garraway has reportedly been hit with a £716k tax bill in the midst of caring for her husband Derek Draper as he continues to battle the effects of Covid.
The Good Morning Britain presenter, 56, is being pursued by the taxman for the six-figure bill after being forced to shut down her husband’s business after he was first hospitalised for the virus back in 2020.
The total amount being pursued by the HMRC is set to be ‘battled out’ in the coming weeks, but friends of the TV presenter have said she is planning on paying the entire bill once a final figure is agreed upon.
‘The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process,’ a source told The Sun.
‘When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that’s owed.
‘It’s no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heart-breaking situations in her personal life in recent years.’
Kate has been helping to care for Derek after he contracted Covid three years ago (Picture: ITV)
They added: ‘Sadly as well as the emotional stress of Derek’s terrible illnesses the financial burden has also been crippling.’
The source said that the family had not only been dealing with losing one of its primary earners, but that the cost of caring for Derek, 55, had ‘taken an enormous toll financially’.
‘One of the most complicated financial situations facing Kate was Derek’s company which she has eventually managed to get closed down with liquidators now in charge of resolving all the financial matters,’ they continued.
The publication has reported that the bill relates to Astera Aspera Ltd, a firm set up in December 2011, which provided psychotherapy and other services.
Derek and Kate were married in 2005 and share two children (Picture: James Gourley/ ITV/ REX/ Shutterstock)
It was once solely run by psychotherapist Derek, however it was forced into liquidation in March last year and HMRC estimated it owed £124,000 in taxes, a figure which has now ballooned.
‘HMRC have now submitted an estimated figure of £716,822 to the liquidators which has come as a surprise to all involved, because they haven’t yet viewed the company accounts,’ the source shared.
After being hospitalised and placed in a coma over three years ago, Derek didn’t return home for over a year as he battled the virus.
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He still struggles with mobility and speaking and requires around the clock care.
When her husband became ill, Kate took over as one of the directors of the firm but later had to close it as she balanced looking after Derek and their two children, as well as her TV commitments.
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Kate Garraway for comment.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
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