India FM: Vodafone appeal is unrelated to retrospective taxation

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

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

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

India FM: Vodafone appeal is unrelated to retrospective taxation

Vodafone India Court Appeal

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has defended India's decision to appeal a Bombay High Court ruling in the Rs 8,500 crore ($1.7 billion) Vodafone transfer pricing case, saying it is not related to a separate, retrospective tax issue.



"Why should the government not file an appeal when it thinks that it is an appealable order?" the minister reportedly told ET Now, an online news portal. Jaitley was responding to a question about the tax department's decision to appeal a Bombay High Court ruling made in October 2015. 

Vodafone won its case against the Indian authorities’ (ITAT) transfer pricing adjustment in October 2015 over the sale of a call centre, which the government is now appealing to the Supreme Court using a Special Leave Petition.





Jaitley rejected criticism of the Indian government’s handling of the Bombay High Court case in an interview published on 20 April, asserting that "there is no company in the world that is immune from paying taxes”.

Vodafone is awaiting international arbitration on another case relating to the ITAT’s imposition of retrospective legislation on the 2007 purchase of an Indian telecom group.



more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

The report is solid and balanced as it correctly underscores the ambitious institutional redesign that Brazil has undertaken in adopting a dual VAT model, experts tell ITR
The Brazilian law firm partner warns against going independent too early, considers the weight of political pressure, and tells ITR what makes tax cool
The lessons from Ireland are clear: selective, targeted, and credible fiscal incentives can unlock supply and investment
The ITR in-house award winner delves into his dramatic novelisation of tax transformation, and declares that 'tax doesn’t need AI right now'
Recent news of job cuts at EY is symptomatic of how the PwC controversy has tarnished the reputation of the entire ‘big four’
Experts reportedly discussed extending the safe harbour to 2027 to give countries more time to legislate; in other news, Baker McKenzie and Greenberg Traurig made senior tax hires
Awards
Submit your nominations to this year's WIBL Americas Awards by January 23
Recent changes in UK tax rules and cross-border requirements are generating high demand for specialist advice, according to MHA
Hany Elnaggar examines how Gulf Cooperation Council countries are internalising transfer pricing norms within evolving fiscal systems shaped by both Islamic and international influences
Where a TP study of comparables produces an arm’s-length range, and the taxpayer’s filed position is outside that range, HMRC will adjust to the median by default
Gift this article