Boris Johnson reportedly pays 'outrageous' capital gains taxes to US authorities

Mayor of London previously claimed he had no intention of paying the taxes due from the sale of his Islington home

London Mayor Boris Johnson also paid tribute (Getty) (Getty)

Boris Johnson has reportedly paid the overdue taxes to the United States government he previously described as “outrageous” and said he didn’t intend to pay.

The Mayor of London, who was born in New York and holds dual American-British citizenship, allegedly paid the capital gains taxes owed after the sale of his million-pound Islington property in 2009, according to The Financial Times.

All US citizens, including those who live and work outside the country, are obliged to file a tax return and pay US taxes.

Mr Johnson’s decision to pay comes shortly before a visit to Boston, New York and Washington next month to drum up investment for London.

A spokesperson from the Mayor’s office told The Independent, “This matter has been dealt with.” They declined to comment further.

In November last year, during a tour of the US Mr Johnson revealed he had been struck by the country’s capital gain taxes, and asked whether he would pay the bill.

“No is the answer. I think it’s absolutely outrageous. Why should I?” He responded.

“I think, you know, I’m not a … I, you know, I haven’t lived in the United States for, you know, well, since I was five years old … I pay the lion’s share of my tax, I pay my taxes to the full in the United Kingdom where I live and work.”

The Mayor’s rumoured pay-out may only exacerbate tensions with the US embassy in London. Mr Johnson is currently attempting to extract an estimated £8million from unpaid congestion charges and parking fines.