The two sites were due to close in 2025-26 with the staff moving to new regional centres elsewhere, however, following a UK-wide review of its network of 170 offices, HMRC has decided to retain a ‘long-term presence’ in the towns.

HMRC stated that the decision to u-turn reflected the changes to the workforce and in particular the key skills of its existing staff.

HMRC announced yesterday that Lynx House in Portsmouth will become the tax authority’s fourteenth regional hub and its Queensway House site in the Scottish town of East Kilbride will be the location for the second phase of its Glasgow regional centre.

By retaining its presence in East Kilbride for the long-term, HMRC stated that it is ‘meeting its commitment’ for the second site in the Glasgow region. The first phase of the Glasgow regional centre is at one Atlantic Square and is due to open later this spring.

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