Vodafone files petition against tax move

Vodafone said today it had filed a writ with the Bombay High Court defending itself against a new step by tax authorities to treat the company as an agent of the seller in its 2007 purchase of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd's mobile business in the country.

Vodafone said on Friday it had filed a writ with the Bombay High Court defending itself against a new step by tax authorities to treat the company as an agent of the seller in its 2007 purchase of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd's mobile business in the country.

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"Vodafone contends that the key issue of jurisdiction (as to whether the Indian tax office can tax the transfer of a foreign company's shares between two non-residents) is currently under appeal to the Supreme Court of India," Vodafone said in a statement.

"Hence any action which seeks to treat Vodafone as an "agent" of Hutchison is misguided and premature," it said.