Overview

• Foreign embassies in London owe over £143 million in unpaid congestion charges and fines.
• The US embassy is the largest debtor, with £14.6 million in unpaid fees.
• TfL insists the congestion charge is a service fee and not a tax, which diplomats claim exempts them.
• The UK government supports TfL’s stance but has not escalated the issue to the International Court of Justice.
• Most embassies comply with the charge, but a minority continue to refuse payment despite diplomatic efforts.