I was there last year and most business people I spoke to were a bit ticked off they were rejected but then went on to say in hindsight they were glad they were. At that time their economy was doing way better than many EU countries. The complication for the west in all this of course is Turkey guarding the only access the Russia Navy has to Sevastopol. It's a choke hold the west needs to keep and bribery, sorry I mean negotiations will be needed I'm sure. NATO membership already gained so what's next absent EU membership I wonder.
If Ireland changes their laws or if the EU changes laws that disallow Apple to continue using this legal loophole across the EU (which would also affect countries other companies) then they have a right to do so, but I don't get how they can ethically back-charge a company for maximizing their use of the current tax law.
The EU seems to be going out on a limb on this one by using the "state-aid" charge as the basis for the tax ruling. That requires them to make the case that the tax break provided Apple with a competitive advantage in the electronics market vs. other companies, which doesn't sound like an easy task considering how successful Apple has been in selling it's products outside the EU.
The state aid gave Ireland a illegal competitive advantage to seduce Apple to put its European HQ in Ireland.
I was there last year and most business people I spoke to were a bit ticked off they were rejected but then went on to say in hindsight they were glad they were. At that time their economy was doing way better than many EU countries. The complication for the west in all this of course is Turkey guarding the only access the Russia Navy has to Sevastopol. It's a choke hold the west needs to keep and bribery, sorry I mean negotiations will be needed I'm sure. NATO membership already gained so what's next absent EU membership I wonder.
Turkey became a nato signatory in 1952
What part of 'already gained' was not clear?
The impression imho was that you were implying becoming a nato signatory was a recent events. Apologies given.
This is yet another case of the dictatorial EU dictating their dictatorial ways to their slave countries and their subjects, in this case Ireland.
Apple made a deal in good faith with Ireland, and now the EU comes along and tells Ireland that the deal is invalid.
The Irish are slaves to the EU, and the Irish are not in control of their own country.
They should get the hell out of the EU, if they were smart.
And Apple needs to set up shop in a place that controls their own destiny and is actually in charge of their own affairs.
If you were smart, you wouldn't post such silly things.
At least 50% of the foreign investments in Ireland are made because Ireland is a EU member state. If Ireland leaves the EU, it would simply collapse
Do you really think that the financial experts of Apple were not aware of the risks they were taking when the agreement with the Irish tax administration was made? You are extremely naive.
may be should come to Canada (regardless the political wind blow what direction). weather is cooler, better for the heat dissipation of powerful processor. dryer than most of the Ireland, less corrosion problem of the device... potato as good as the ireland. health care is universal.... Hmmm, may be not... - mad that my invitation is lost in mail... ;-(.
I say Apple should tell the EU they'll be relocating to Britain now that they're out of the EU.
They would still need to pay EU taxes on revenues obtained in the EU.
I blame the Big Four -- they are shills and sell fancy financial tricks to save $$, collect their fees and run. 5 years later the taxman comes a calling and demands taxes owed. By then the Big Four are long gone. Corporations should take the Big Fours tricks with a pile of salt.
I agree about the culpability of tax advisers and auditors.
This is yet another case of the dictatorial EU dictating their dictatorial ways to their slave countries and their subjects, in this case Ireland.
Apple made a deal in good faith with Ireland, and now the EU comes along and tells Ireland that the deal is invalid.
The Irish are slaves to the EU, and the Irish are not in control of their own country.
They should get the hell out of the EU, if they were smart.
And Apple needs to set up shop in a place that controls their own destiny and is actually in charge of their own affairs.
If you were smart, you wouldn't post such silly things.
At least 50% of the foreign investments in Ireland are made because Ireland is a EU member state. If Ireland leaves the EU, it would simply collapse
Do you really think that the financial experts of Apple were not aware of the risks they were taking when the agreement with the Irish tax administration was made? You are extremely naive.
Since the EU has retrospectively changed the law they couldn't have been.
I think that it's the EU who is very naive, and quite foolish.
Tim Cook has already threatened to cut jobs in Europe, and good for him! Go Tim Cook!
Destroy them and crush them!
When did he say that?
I think he said the lack of tax certainty may cause issues for investment in the future.
I have no doubt this is a largely anti-US crusade by the EU. It's hard to believe that they couldn't find a way to apply the state aid law retrospectively to European HQ'ed companies but they haven't.
I meant european countries have real tax havens - like jersey in the UK. Banks move money around Europe all the time. The investigations are (with the exception of Fiat) all US companies.
In the end, all this is Apple trying to avoid paying taxes, something all of us do compliantly without begging for exception. Apple and other Corporations are simply moochers of a countries wealth whether that be the consumer's dollars or the consumer's labour. They are transient welfare bums.
Please show me someone who willingly pays as much tax as they can. I do not and you do not. Tax loopholes and accountants exist because we are all human and want to spend our own money instead of giving into others to waste.
If your tax rate dropped to .05% tomorrow, you would gladly pass less and then complain when it was unfairly raised. This situation is no different than the deal that Ireland (not Apple) allegedly created.
If everyone paid less than 1% in tax, I'm fairly sure everyone would start complaining after not long, once the schools, hospitals and prisons started closing. The trouble is that Apple, being the largest corporation on the planet, actually has an impact on national budgets when they don't pay tax. The rest of us have to make up for what Apple, Google and Amazon don't pay.
Please show me someone who willingly pays as much tax as they can. I do not and you do not. Tax loopholes and accountants exist because we are all human and want to spend our own money instead of giving into others to waste.
If your tax rate dropped to .05% tomorrow, you would gladly pass less and then complain when it was unfairly raised. This situation is no different than the deal that Ireland (not Apple) allegedly created.
The rest of us have to make up for what Apple, Google and Amazon don't pay.
If you're an Apple, Google or Amazon customer you're also making up for what they do pay.
I say Apple should tell the EU they'll be relocating to Britain now that they're out and Apple should simply refuse to pay that extortionate and fraudulent bill.
They can relocate and refuse but then they won't be able to sell in the EU...
There is no chance of Turkey being in the EU this decade
I was there last year and most business people I spoke to were a bit ticked off they were rejected but then went on to say in hindsight they were glad they were. At that time their economy was doing way better than many EU countries. The complication for the west in all this of course is Turkey guarding the only access the Russia Navy has to Sevastopol. It's a choke hold the west needs to keep and bribery, sorry I mean negotiations will be needed I'm sure. NATO membership already gained so what's next absent EU membership I wonder.
I don't understand west's obsession with Russia. Personally, I'm more worried with growth of radicals in middle-east, which Turkey just might be a big part of.
Additionally... in any real crisis, I cannot see Turkey being really able to guard that access. Not to mention that they seem to be keen on switching sides or, at least, sitting on two chairs, for as much as it benefits them. How long did it take them to hug and kiss with Putin, after grounding that Russian jet?
I don't see them as valuable and trustworthy partner, not under current management at least.
Comments
At least 50% of the foreign investments in Ireland are made because Ireland is a EU member state. If Ireland leaves the EU, it would simply collapse
Do you really think that the financial experts of Apple were not aware of the risks they were taking when the agreement with the Irish tax administration was made? You are extremely naive.
I think that it's the EU who is very naive, and quite foolish.
Tim Cook has already threatened to cut jobs in Europe, and good for him! Go Tim Cook!
Destroy them and crush them!
There does seem to be some movement to remedy that though:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/aug/17/firms-giving-advice-on-aggressive-tax-avoidance-could-face-large-fines
I think he said the lack of tax certainty may cause issues for investment in the future.
I have no doubt this is a largely anti-US crusade by the EU. It's hard to believe that they couldn't find a way to apply the state aid law retrospectively to European HQ'ed companies but they haven't.
I meant european countries have real tax havens - like jersey in the UK. Banks move money around Europe all the time. The investigations are (with the exception of Fiat) all US companies.
Additionally... in any real crisis, I cannot see Turkey being really able to guard that access. Not to mention that they seem to be keen on switching sides or, at least, sitting on two chairs, for as much as it benefits them. How long did it take them to hug and kiss with Putin, after grounding that Russian jet?
I don't see them as valuable and trustworthy partner, not under current management at least.