Diplomatic Dispute over £143m in Unpaid London Congestion Charges

Transport for London considers legal action as embassies, led by the US, refuse to pay fees dating back to 2003

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.