HMRC payroll costs rise £29 million due to senior hires
Britain’s tax collection agency added 29.4 million pounds to its annual payroll between August 2024 and August 2025 as senior positions expanded faster than junior ranks. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs employed 66,880 full-time staff by last August, up from 64,580 a year earlier, a 3.6 percent rise that pushed total wages from 287.1 million pounds to 316.6 million pounds.
The Global Payroll Alliance found that executive officer posts grew by 4.8 percent, while grade six and seven positions climbed by 4.6 percent. Senior civil service roles increased 3.8 percent year over year, accounting for most of the 10.3 percent jump in costs despite representing fewer total employees.
Alliance chief Melanie Pizzey said the agency should demonstrate whether new hires deliver measurable improvements in compliance and tax collection. She suggested that automation could help manage workloads without further expanding headcount, as government departments face pressure to limit spending.
