Moira Stuart is taxed about her tax affairs

Her familiar, calm tones have become the voice of HM Revenue & Customs, reminding taxpayers to get their self-assessment forms in on time and insisting that "tax doesn't have to be taxing". But Moira Stuart has now been asked questions about her own accounts.

The newsreader and the BBC declined to comment after The Sunday Telegraph reported that money was paid into a firm registered at Companies House called Moira Stuart Limited, of which she is the sole director. Corporation tax amounts to a rate of 21 per cent, while income tax can be charged at up to 50 per cent. It is a common, legal practice for freelancers in all walks of life to set up service companies to receive earnings and manage accounts.

A HMRC spokesman said: "Moira Stuart works on specific advertising campaigns for the HMRC. She is not employed directly by us, so there is no question of disguised employment."