Written Question·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·UIN 91400

Diplomatic Service: Redundancy Pay

Tabled: 17 November 2025
Answered: 25 November 2025

Question

Kevin Hollinrake

ConservativeThirsk and Malton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether severance payments to heads of mission are exempt from Income Tax.

Answer

Seema Malhotra
Payments made by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are subject to the same HMRC tax rules as any other organisation, as set out here: https://www.gov.uk/termination-payments-and-tax-when-you-leave-a-job.