London, the local government body responsible for the transport network of the UK capital, Transport for London (TfL), is among several foreign embassies pursuing the Indian High Commission in London over its refusal to pay the city's 20-year-old congestion charge. Is done.
The congestion charge is a 15 GBP daily charge for vehicles driving within a designated central London area until 6 pm as part of the city's anti-pollution measures. A recently released list of TfL's alleged dues between 2003 and December 2023 tops the US Embassy in London, with outstanding dues of GBP 14,645,025, followed by diplomatic vehicles of the Embassy of Japan (GBP 10,073,988), India with GBP 8,551,835. Is in third place. At the bottom end of the ranking is the Embassy of the Republic of Togo which only owes GBP 40.
Foreign missions have consistently maintained that the London congestion charge is a form of tax and therefore exempt from paying it under the Vienna Convention.We believe that the congestion charge imposed by the UK authorities is not a service charge but a tax which should be exempted under the Vienna Convention and hence the Indian High Commission, London, like many diplomatic missions, does not pay the congestion charge. does not do. Indian High Commission in London in 2016 – a position which is said to have remained unchanged since then.
The US Embassy in London reiterates the same stance, saying: "In accordance with international law 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-term position is shared by many other diplomatic missions in London."
However, TfL – which is overseen by the Mayor of London's office – has refused to back down and has signaled plans to take it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the Hague-based UN court that adjudicates disputes between countries. Decides.In its statement alongside a long list of foreign diplomatic missions that are allegedly owed millions in fees and fines, TfL said: “We and the UK government are clear that the congestion charge is a fee for a service, not Tax. This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it.
“The majority of embassies in London pay fees, but despite our representations through diplomatic channels, there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so.
“We will continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charge fees and penalty charge notices and are pushing to take the matter to the International Court of Justice."
The congestion charge is a 15 GBP daily charge for vehicles driving within a designated central London area until 6 pm as part of the city's anti-pollution measures. A recently released list of TfL's alleged dues between 2003 and December 2023 tops the US Embassy in London, with outstanding dues of GBP 14,645,025, followed by diplomatic vehicles of the Embassy of Japan (GBP 10,073,988), India with GBP 8,551,835. Is in third place. At the bottom end of the ranking is the Embassy of the Republic of Togo which only owes GBP 40.
Foreign missions have consistently maintained that the London congestion charge is a form of tax and therefore exempt from paying it under the Vienna Convention.We believe that the congestion charge imposed by the UK authorities is not a service charge but a tax which should be exempted under the Vienna Convention and hence the Indian High Commission, London, like many diplomatic missions, does not pay the congestion charge. does not do. Indian High Commission in London in 2016 – a position which is said to have remained unchanged since then.
The US Embassy in London reiterates the same stance, saying: "In accordance with international law 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-term position is shared by many other diplomatic missions in London."
However, TfL – which is overseen by the Mayor of London's office – has refused to back down and has signaled plans to take it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the Hague-based UN court that adjudicates disputes between countries. Decides.In its statement alongside a long list of foreign diplomatic missions that are allegedly owed millions in fees and fines, TfL said: “We and the UK government are clear that the congestion charge is a fee for a service, not Tax. This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it.
“The majority of embassies in London pay fees, but despite our representations through diplomatic channels, there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so.
“We will continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charge fees and penalty charge notices and are pushing to take the matter to the International Court of Justice."
