HMRC spent over £600,000 on heating subsidies for remote staff

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has spent more than £610,000 on utility bill subsidies for civil servants working from home over the four financial years ending in April 2026. Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request show that annual subsidy payments to HMRC staff have more than doubled, rising from £95,000 in 2022 to £211,000 in 2026.

The payments are specifically designated for 5,259 staff members who are officially classified as contractual home workers, representing approximately 7 per cent of the department’s 75,898 employees. Because HMRC is the third-largest government department by headcount, officials suggest the total cost across the wider Civil Service is likely significantly higher.

Political figures have criticized the expenditure. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood described the payments as handouts to public servants, while Reform MP Danny Kruger labeled the spending a ‘grotesque waste of taxpayer money’ at a time when many households are facing high energy costs.