Katona bankruptcy battle back in court

Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona’s bankruptcy battle with the taxman should finally reach a conclusion at the High Court in the UK today.

The proceedings against Katona, 27, relate to an outstanding £157,000 (€198,000) of a £417,000 (€526,000) tax bill.

Two weeks ago she was given until today to find the sum by a bankruptcy registrar in London.

Adjourning the case on that occasion, Mr Registrar Nicholls said: “I am going to mark it for settlement of the balance. I am going to mark it final.”

Bankruptcy petitions “are not to be held over someone’s head indefinitely”, he stressed.

He ordered that, when the case returned to court today, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) would have to elect whether it wished to proceed with the petition, dismiss it, “or to have the bankruptcy order made”.

No financial details were given during the last hearing.

In June, her barrister told the Bankruptcy Court that Katona was expecting payments of £472,000 (€595,000) before the end of August – £291,000 (€367,000) for work already done.

The bankruptcy petition was issued against Katona in January.

Today’s proceedings will again be before Mr Registrar Nicholls.