Jason Manford has been landed with a seven-figure tax demand from HMRC, totalling precisely £1,131,833 in outstanding Paye and National Insurance contributions.
The bill relates to his holding company, Invisible Man Ltd, which entered voluntary liquidation in 2017.
According to documents lodged with Companies House, the firm’s primary function was operating as a holding company with a portfolio of investment properties.
The 45-year-old Manchester comic and BBC Radio 2 stand-in presenter was left with no choice but to offload parts of his property portfolio to meet the substantial debt.
Jason Manford was hit with a £1.13million tax demand from HMRC
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A report submitted to Companies House revealed by The Sun stated: “The principal activity of the company was that of a holding Company, which held a portfolio of investment properties.”
The tax demand, combined with the financial fallout from his divorce settlement with first wife Catherine, compelled Mr Manford to dispose of a 10-property portfolio he had assembled across Greater Manchester.
The couple separated in 2013, with the divorce finalised in 2017.
Mr Manford had built up the rental property empire after finding success in comedy, snapping up homes in the region as buy-to-let investments.
The comedian sold off his 10-property portfolio to help settle his outstanding debts
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The sale of the properties generated in excess of £3million, which was sufficient to cover both the HMRC liability and the costs arising from the marital split.
Companies House filings confirmed the scale of the disposals, revealing the proceeds from selling off the portfolio were used to settle the outstanding debts in full.
Mr Manford married Catherine in October 2007 and the pair went on to have four children, three daughters and a son, before their relationship broke down.
The BBC presenter has spoken candidly about the failure of the marriage, acknowledging it “disintegrated” because he failed to devote sufficient “care and time” to his wife.
The BBC Radio 2 stand-in presenter had built up a multimillion-pound property portfolio across Greater Manchester
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He has admitted his focus on work and earning money for his family meant the relationship was neglected, with long stretches spent away from home on tour and other commitments.
Mr Manford went on to wed TV producer Lucy Dyke in 2017, the same year his divorce was settled.
Mr Dyke’s credits include Black Mirror, The Split and Ripper Street. The couple have since had a daughter and a son together, bringing Mr Manford’s total to six children.
Beyond his financial difficulties, Mr Manford has continued to forge ahead professionally.
Alongside his regular stints filling in on BBC Radio 2, the father-of-six took a lead part this year in the UK premiere of the Broadway musical Something Rotten, staged in Manchester.
He has also undergone a notable physical transformation in recent months, shedding around three stone over 18 months after taking up padel tennis.
Mr Manford said: “I’ve been on it with padel. I’ve lost probably about three stone, I think, in around 18 months.”
Jason Manford’s financial pressures coincided with the fallout from his divorce from first wife Catherine
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The comedian revealed his doctor had cautioned him knee replacements would be necessary unless he slimmed down.
He credited a WhatsApp fitness group with his brother and friends for helping keep him motivated throughout the process.
GB News has reached out to Mr Manford’s representatives for comment.