Zimbabwe Embassy Shamed For Not Paying Tax, Owes UK US$129,000

According to the UK newspaper MailOnline, the foreign office recently named and shamed 23 foreign embassies and diplomatic organisations which owe more than £1.5 million in unpaid tax.

Top of the list of shame is the embassy of Sudan, with Iran and Zimbabwe in second and third place respectively. According to the MailOnline, diplomatic missions are exempt from national, regional or municipal taxes. They are however, encouraged to pay a portion of their bill, equating to just 6 per cent of what a normal firm would fork out.

Zimbabwe’s embassy, which occupies a Grade 11-listed building in central London, reportedly owes £101,694 (about US$129,000) in business rates. Government officials in Harare had not responded to NewZimbabwe.com’s questions. The business rates should have been paid 12 months ago.