In total, over 3,500 devices, including 2,300 mobile phones and 507 laptops reported as lost, have gone missing from the tax office. In the past year alone, this equates to an average of two laptops and ten mobile phones vanishing every week. A further 627 laptops and 145 phones were reported stolen during the same period.

HMRC officials insisted security protocols are in place, noting that all equipment is password-protected and can be remotely wiped of data if reported missing. While acknowledging these measures, cyber security expert Graham Cluley told The Telegraph: “Any security-savvy organisation that equips staff with laptops and smartphones needs to put measures in place to handle how to ensure data remains secure… it sounds like HMRC has done this.”

The losses have drawn sharp criticism, coming at a time when the tax office is under scrutiny for declining service standards and its work-from-home policies. William Yarwood of the Taxpayers’ Alliance campaign group called the situation “a disgrace”, adding, “if the taxman expects the public to keep track of every penny they owe, the least they can do is keep track of their own phones and laptops”.

The decline in service is stark: in 2024, 63% of callers waited over 10 minutes to speak to an adviser, whereas in 1995, 99% of calls were answered within 15 minutes.

An HMRC spokesman said: “We take quick action to deactivate any lost or stolen devices and investigate all security incidents, taking steps to reduce future recurrences.”