US Embassy refuses to pay £14.6m London congestion charge | UK News

The US embassy in London owes £14.6 million in unpaid congestion charges, figures have revealed.

Unpaid fees and fines accumulated by all embassies in the capital were published by Transport to London (TfL).

Statistics show that the Japanese embassy has the second largest debt at £10.1 million, followed by India’s high commission at £8.6 million.

The embassy of the Republic of Togo, in Central Africa, appears at the end of the list with a 40 pound note.

Across all embassies, the total of unpaid fees and fines accumulated by diplomats between the launch of the congestion charge in London in 2003 and at the end of last year it is £143.5 million.

TfL said in a statement: “We and the UK Government are clear that the congestion charge is a charge for a service and not a tax.

“This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it.”

He stated that the majority of embassies in London pay the fee, “but there continues to be a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels”.

TfL added: “We will continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charges and related penalty notices, and are pushing for the matter to be referred to the International Court of Justice.”

The US embassy in London moved from Grosvenor Square to Nine Elms in January 2018.

A US embassy spokesperson said: “In accordance with international law, as reflected in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, our position is that the congestion charge is a tax from which diplomatic missions are exempt. .

“Our long-standing position is shared by many other diplomatic missions in London.”

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In February 2020, then Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued a written ministerial statement revealing that his officials had written to “a number of diplomatic missions and international organisations” to “press for payment” of money owed relating to the tax. congestion, parking fines and business rates. .

The congestion charging scheme involves a £15 daily charge for driving in an area of ​​central London between 7am and 6pm on weekdays and between noon and 6pm on weekends and bank holidays.

There are discounts and exemptions for some people and vehicles – such as residents, taxis and fully electric cars.