Ramsay's business empire has suffered in the recent economic downturn and in 2009 he was advised to file for bankruptcy because of his spiralling money issues,

The TV star managed to stave off the debt-collectors momentarily by pumping $8 million (£5 million) of his own money into his businesses in a last ditch bid to keep afloat, but has subsequently been hit with a series of bills and legal issues.

Late last year (09) British tax officials ordered the TV star to pay off a series of outstanding debts in relation to two of his restaurants in London, and he was also hit with an allegedly unpaid bill from a U.S. dairy company in relation to his Manhattan eaterie.

Now tax officials in New York are said to be chasing the chef for $250,000 (£166,000) after he allegedly fell behind with payments.

His U.S. company, Gordon Ramsay New York, has also been listed by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) as among the Big Apple's top 250 business "delinquent tax payers."

A DTF spokesperson says, "New York loses billions of dollars each year in tax revenues owed, but not collected, known as the tax gap. We aggressively address the tax gap."

A rep for Ramsay's company adds, "There is an amount still outstanding to the New York State regarding Sales Tax. We are negotiating through our New York advisors to discharge this debt."