WPP set for UK return

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

WPP set for UK return

wpp.jpg

The world’s largest advertising and marketing group, WPP, has announced that it is planning to move its headquarters back to the UK, after the government committed to reforming the country’s controlled foreign company (CFC) rules.

Speaking last week, Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of the advertising company, said he was delighted to say he thinks the last remaining issues with the UK’s tax regime have been removed, subject to legislation being introduced in parliament.

"We will be coming back subject to shareholder approval," said Sorrell.

WPP re-domiciled to Ireland in 2008 in reaction to what it saw as overly strict taxation of overseas profits and the UK’s uncompetitive corporate tax rate.

Further reading:

Why taxpayers should consider relocating to the UK

COMMENT: Why the UK’s tax regime means it is open for business

Why the future of UK CFC reform is looking bright

The real reason Aon is moving its headquarters to the UK

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

Long-running, high-value and complex enquiries are a significant reason for HM Revenue and Customs’s increased TP yield, experts suggest
Landmark legal updates in India have led companies to prioritise specialised tax advisers over accountants, ITR has found
Brazil’s shift to a nationwide consumption tax is more than conceptual; it fundamentally transforms municipal revenue, enforcement, and administrative disputes
While some advisers praised the ruling’s definition of a ‘voucher’ for VAT purposes, a UK partner said the case left unanswered questions
While pillar two has been enacted on paper in Brazil, companies are encountering a range of practical compliance issues, ITR has heard
Moore, founding partner of the Chicago tax boutique which bears her name, shares her career wisdom for ITR’s new Women in Tax interview series
But partners at the firm admit that jumping ship to the US would not be as easy as some believe
Governments are rewriting tax policy for the AI era, deploying digital taxes, tailored incentives and algorithmic enforcement that redefine where value is created
Wingrove will succeed Bill Thomas, who has served in the role since 2017; in other news, Andersen unveiled a sharp increase in revenues for 2025
Partners are divided on Italy vs PDM D’s analytical depth, evidentiary standards, and what the judgment signals for future intra-group financing cases
Gift this article