The estate of reality TV star Jade Goody is said to be facing bankruptcy after being issued with a £1million tax bill.
The Sun reports that the demand will leave her two young sons, Bobby, nine and Freddie, eight, penniless.
Trustees for the children said the bill was 'heartless'.
Jade was just 27 when she died from cervical cancer in 2009. Having earned a reported £2.2million between 2006 and 2010, she left £1million in trust for the two boys she had with TV presenter Jeff Brazier.
But now the Inland Revenue has issued the estate with what the Sun call 'a crippling bill'.
Trustee Danny Hayward said the money was largely left to the children to enable them to have a good education.
"Jade was determined to give the boys the education she never had," he said. "We've paid their private school fees to the end of the year but we can't after that. Jade would be heartbroken."
Jade's mum Jackiey Budden vowed to fight the demand and questioned the timing of the bill.
"Why are they bringing this now four years after her death?" Jackiey asked. "It was her dying wish that the two boys had the life she never had."
HMRC raised the bill in March after ruling expenses run up on Jade's business and wedding did not qualify for tax relief.