Eamonn Holmes forced to sell two homes and owes taxman eye-watering sum (Image: ITV)

Eamonn Holmes revealed that his tax row with HMRC has cost him more than £1m and two houses – and the GB News presenter still owes a huge six-figure sum. The former This Morning presenter, who has worked for ITV and the BBC – claimed tax officials ruled he was a staff member with broadcasters rather than freelance.

The Northern Irish broadcaster, 65, branded HMRC “thieves” and said they have “ruined me” at the most vulnerable time of his life. He said the tax office requested 10 years worth of back tax and national insurance as a result of the employee status change.

Eamonn claimed he has already paid over £1million back since – but despite selling his two homes still owes an eye-watering sum of £250,000.

The broadcaster spoke openly on an episode of the BelTel podcast with host Ciaran Dunbar.

Eamonn Holmes has struggled with his health in recent years (Image: Getty)

Eamonn remarked: “I’m still working because the thieving HMRC came after me and said, ‘Do you know when we always said you were self-employed. Well, we thought about it and you’re not self-employed and we want 10 years in back tax and National Insurance.’

Basically at the most vulnerable time of my life they wrecked me financially.”

He continued: “I had to sell my house in Belfast. We had a house in Portugal I had to sell. I still owe them a quarter of a million quid.

I appealed it twice and lost it twice. Lawyers fees are absolutely horrendous. That was something on top of health matters I had this tax situation that is not over yet. It’s thievery.”

Eamonn Holmes took aim at Lorraine Kelly (Image: Getty)

The presenter suggested thatthroughout his broadcasting career he had several jobs with various publications, adding “I couldn’t be more freelance”.

Eamonn also argued that telly star Lorraine Kelly managed to avoid similar tax issues by saying she was playing a part on TV.

He remarked: “And yet Lorraine Kelly is deemed to be freelance because she’s not really Lorraine Kelly. She’s an actress who plays the part of Lorraine Kelly, she said.”

Before concluding: “It absolutely ruined me.”

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Eamonn Holmes presents the breakfast show on GB News (Image: GB News)

Lorraine previously avoided a £1.2million tax bill after a judge claimed that she is a “theatrical artist” taking on the role of “Lorraine Kelly”.

She received the eye-watering tax and national insurance bill from HMRC in 2020 after the revenue argued that TV presenters are employed by broadcasters, and therefore should be “subject to income tax and national insurance contributions.

Last year Eamonn spoke about the tax battle and said he never received holiday or sick pay but added he was not looking for sympathy.

“It’s like they have taken away everything I ever worked for,” he said in an interview with his former UTV colleague Gerry Kelly.

A HMRC spokesperson previously stated: “We take the wellbeing of all taxpayers seriously and do everything we can for those who engage with us to get their tax affairs in order, including by offering affordable payment plans.”