HC defers Vodafone tax hearing to Nov 23

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday deferred to Nov 23 a hearing of Vodafone’s petition against a move by Indian tax office to treat it as an agent of the seller in its 2007 acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa’s mobile business in India, a spokesman for Vodafone said. Vodafone had filed a writ with the Bombay High Court on Oct. 15, saying the tax office’s move to treat the company as an agent of the seller was an “unusual move”. Vodafone, which has received a $2.5 billion tax bill over the purchase, has separately approached India’s Supreme Court challenging a Bombay High Court order the tax department has jurisdiction over cross-border deals. The Supreme Court will hear that case on Nov 15.