Updated

The District of Columbia government wants back taxes from more than a dozen foreign governments.

Diplomatic properties generally are exempt from property taxes but a D.C. official says each embassy must file for tax-exempt status.

If an embassy doesn't file for tax-exempt status, a tax bill can result, said Martin Skolnik, the D.C. official in charge of property tax collection.

According to a list of delinquent property owners, foreign governments owe the District about $247,000 in back property taxes. The countries include Macedonia, Botswana, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Angola, Albania, Armenia, Swaziland, the Philippines, Peru, Hungary and Liberia.