Request ID: FOI-1720-2223 Date published: 11 November 2022
You asked
I am writing to request information on the amount of unpaid Congestion Charge for foreign embassies in London. I would like to know the total existing amount owed by each foreign embassy, as well as the amount incurred in 2022 so far, 2021 and 2020.
This should be provided in a spreadsheet table, separated by year and with a total: ideally from highest to lowest in owed amount.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1720-2223
Thank you for your request received on 17 October 2022 asking for information about unpaid Congestion Charge payments for foreign embassies.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
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.
The majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels. We will continue to pursue all unpaid Congestion Charge fees and related penalty charge notices and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice.
The attached spreadsheet shows the total amount owing in penalty charges and the total accrued in the last three years.
We regularly publish information on the total of Congestion Charge incurred diplomatic debt in the factsheets available on our website:
