Forum Topic

Maybe missed in the election fervour

Mayor Khan has announced that from 2026 ALL vehicles will be charged in the congestion zone area.....that includes electric ones.its started.Ulez next? Running short of money.

Andy Pike ● 854d15 Comments

Pay by the mile?

Ivonne Holliday ● 854d

That EVs would be charged in the congestion zone in 2025 was announced years ago.  Has the date now been moved?

Philippa Bond ● 854d

According to some reports recovering money from ULEZ  fines has proved to be difficult.Regressive taxes tend to have these issues.It's not pay per mile but just using the existing technology and changing what vehicles are subjective to the tariff. Something that could have been done to the south circular ULEZ zone.The tariff doesn't even need to be the same if you look at the Oxford example.Money on the ULEZ expansion to the M25 could have been spent on green transport.Mismanagement and poor decision making that's why they were so secretive with the figures.

Ed Robinson ● 854d

Embassies apparently don't pay their fines - not sure how many fines are actually run up by actual diplomats.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckrrnz2gn3po

Philippa Bond ● 854d

That's because it is considered a local tax.

Ed Robinson ● 854d

"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."

Philippa Bond ● 854d

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/cclez-online-factsheet-embassy-debt-dec23.pdf

Philippa Bond ● 854d

And the service is ?

Andy Pike ● 854d

Well many would disagree including some experts. If they thought it wasn't a tax they would have taken legal steps by now."TfL and the Government may really, really, want diplomats to pay the congestion charge, but there's a serious argument that it is a tax, and therefore diplomats are exempt."https://x.com/DanNeidle/status/1792525649199902865?t=MwuLx0x1COowCaR1zVdwuQ&s=19

Ed Robinson ● 854d

TfL have stated that ULEZ is a tax. Because some vehicles are exempt from the congestion charge, but they still cause congestion, it would be difficult to prove the CC was any different.In short, by not changing all private vehicles they have effectively made it a tax."Unlike the Congestion Charge, diplomats are exempt from paying the ULEZ charge because it is not a universal charge but a charge which is levied in respect of the most polluting vehicles and is therefore not a charge for specific services rendered."https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/payment-ulez-embassies-and-diplomatic-missions

Ed Robinson ● 854d

Hello Philippa,While I agree that TfL says it is a charge and not a tax, initially they compared it with paying for a bus ticket.  The latter certainly is a service.How the can say that the congestion charge is a service is baffling.  Well, no, waffle!

Ivonne Holliday ● 853d

If I remember correctly it's reciprocal. The UK Embassies overseas owe similar amounts in parking fines, etc. It's just a game for the diplomatic staff.

John Kettlekey ● 853d

Perhaps there's an opportunity for a market in trading in international diplomatic debts :-)

Michael Ixer ● 853d

The UK will soon be ranked second amongst countries holding US debt.It's illogical to go to the US to promote London to potential US tourist and then keep having a pop at their embassy regarding this tax, or their president for that matter.

Ed Robinson ● 853d

Must admit this is something I've never discussed with my US friends. Do you think the average tourist cares about the value of times the US embassy owes the UK? Apparently the majority of embassies do pay the congestion charge so perhaps the general concensus is it's not a tax? I see Nigeria is another CC debtor: must be all those princes needing help from western internet users to unlock their inheritances? :-)https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/legal/2024-05/foreign-embassies-owe-143m-in-unpaid-congestion-charge-fines/

Michael Ixer ● 853d