Apple...ouch!

indemnity said

Apples sweet tax arrangements judged unlawful and Ireland ordered to recover Eu13billion, possibly more if interest/fines added. Google hit with anti trust fines of Eu2.4 billion.

Good. About time big foreign corporations paid their share.

A good move by the EU to ‘look behind the veil’ in Apples case.  When I was in Brussels ‘state aid’ was subsidies, preferential zoning and stuff like that.  Positive ‘gifts’ if you like.  Ireland trying to be cute went for more subtle approach - fenagling actual tax paid while careful not to reduce the actual rates applicable.  Luckily the EU saw through this and this is the result.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

If I'm supposed to feel sorry for these corporations... I dont.

The taxes that they should have paid would have gone to health, education, social security and social services, infrastructure.. you know, the stuff that we all pay for and rely on.

Shame on the corporations for not shouldering their responsibilities, and shrugging them off like a hydrophobic jacket.

Well, if Ireland are complicit in this - will/should they be fined as well?

These structures are commonplace with a multitude (probably all) of corporations, it is in fact how they attract the investment and are configured in different ways in various industries/jurisdictions. It is only when challenged that sometimes they are exposed and partially dismantled only to be re configured in an alternative way. Don't think for one minute that this is a conclusion, simply a restructuring will take place and liability off set/charge back in a different manner/jurisdiction.

TheFuntographer said

Well, if Ireland are complicit in this - will/should they be fined as well?

Technically they should be sanctioned by the EU for deliberate - and sneaky - breach of State Aid rules.  When and what form these sanctions will take is anyone’s guess.  But Germany and France have been sanctioned in the past - so a relative minnow like Ireland will pay a price that will hurt.

Edited by Carlos