Vodafone admits moving for tax regime

Vodafone has admitted that the main reason it located its brand and marketing arm in Ireland was to benefit from the attractive tax regime.

The mobile phone company, who reclaimed €67m from the Revenue Commissioners that should have been paid in the UK, had originally identified Ireland specifically to collect revenue.

“In 2001, Dublin was identified as a location for this activity on a number of grounds including the commercial, regulatory and tax environment in Ireland at that time and Vodafone began to use a Dublin-based subsidiary to collect royalties and brand management fees from operating companies and partners to fund the development of the Vodafone brand around the world,” a spokesperson said.