LONDON - James Hewitt, who earned the infamous sobriquet of a "royal love rat" after his revelations of an affair with the late Princess Diana, is now facing the taxman's music for failing to pay up his dues.
An Inland Revenue petition was received at the High Court regarding his current status. Hewitt has been given until November 18 to pay up or risk being declared bankrupt. It was revealed that the former cavalry officer owes something in the region of £2.2 million in unpaid tax and around £500,000 in interest, surcharges and lat payment fines. The amount has been pending since 1999/2000. Hewitt was not in the court and the Inland Revenue refused to comment on the status, "We are unable to comment on an individual's tax affairs," was the comment.
His 2003/2004 liability has been pegged at £422,646. Prior to this the tax liability for the preceding three years ahs been stated as £396,000in 2003/2004 and £374,000 in 2001/2002. This valuation suggests that Hewitt's annual income in these years touched £1 million. Hewitt is no stranger to the law since he was arrested in possession of cocaine last July and came close to bankruptcy in 2003.
He does not have a regular job and seems to make money by selling the story of the affair with Princess Diana on reality TV shows and documentaries. He once tried to dispose letters between the late Princess of Wales and himself for £10 million. He also authored a book called Love And War in 1999. The book detailed the royal affair down to the intimate details.
His main asset is a flat in Kensington, west London valued at about £500,000.
Posted
on : Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:35 GMT | Debt News
By : Anne Philips
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