Eamonn Holmes has revealed that his long-running tax war with HMRC has devastated his finances to the point where he has lost more than a million pounds, been forced to sell two homes, and still owes a quarter of a million.
The 65-year-old broadcaster said the dispute hit him “at the most vulnerable time of my life” and claimed the tax authority “wrecked me financially”, insisting their actions stripped away everything he worked for.
According to Eamonn, HMRC reclassified him as an employee rather than a freelance presenter — a ruling that triggered a demand for a decade’s worth of back tax and national insurance. He said he has already paid over £1 million, yet even after giving up his house in Belfast and a holiday property in Portugal, he still owes £250,000.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Eamonn said he appealed the decision twice and lost both times, leaving him with enormous legal bills on top of the tax demand. He reflected on his career across GB News, ITV, Sky News, Channel 4, Channel 5 and the BBC, saying he has never received holiday pay or sick pay, but that “it’s like they have taken away everything I ever worked for.”
Eamonn also pointed out that TV star Lorraine Kelly avoided a similar tax battle after successfully arguing in court that she “plays a character” on screen. Eamonn said he couldn’t argue the same, explaining: “I would say I’m an actor who plays the part of Eamonn Holmes — except I’m not. I’m the same on screen as I am off it. There’s no different persona with me.”
A spokesperson for HMRC previously said they “take the wellbeing of all taxpayers seriously” and offer help and payment plans to those working to resolve tax issues.
The dispute comes amid difficult years for Eamonn, who has battled multiple health setbacks following major back surgery in 2022 that left him reliant on a walking frame or wheelchair.
Last month, he vented on GB News that “nobody cares” about the challenges he faces when trying to book accessible hotel rooms, saying companies make it nearly impossible to speak to a human representative. He said: “I want to talk to people and explain I’ve got special needs… but you just cannot speak to anybody. And nobody cares.”
