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Over the last year, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Apple's tax payments here in Europe. The company based its EU HQ in Ireland and benefitted from lower corporation tax, which the European Commission objected to, handing down a €13 billion fine. The Irish government is siding with Apple in appealing the decision but now it looks like the US government may also be stepping in.
According to sources speaking with Reuters, the US government is looking to ‘intervene in Apple's appeal' against the European Union's fine. We do know that the Obama administration previously sided with Apple on the issue and while the Trump administration has yet to say anything publicly about the case, the US has “filed an application” with the EU, seeking a say in the case.
Here is the full quote from the source: “I can confirm the United States filed an application with the European Union General Court to intervene in the case involving the retroactive application of state aid rules to Apple”. The European General Court is expected to hear the case later on in 2018.
KitGuru Says: We aren't going to see any resolution to this case for quite some time but it is interesting to hear that the US government wants to step in. Whether or not the EU will play along remains to be seen.
About time apple paid it’s fair share
I say Apple should pay just like every other company does. I fail to see why the US government would step in as it has nothing to do with them and it’s not like they would do it for any other US company. So US government F off and let Apple be forced to pay what they owe no special treatment required thanks.
If apple lose this then a precedent has been set in the EU for them to go after all companies that setup in jurisdictions they want more money from.
This is a desperate attempt from the EU to get more money in the pot due to losing 12% of their funding from Brexit!
This case was long under way before Brexit even existed
Much better if the free market is massively distorted by government intervention that benefits only large corporations.
Company A can deliver 1000 jobs? A does not have to pay taxes.
Company B can deliver 5 jobs? B should pay lots of taxes, particularly now that A pays almost none.
Shareholders and CEOs profit, small and medium business pay the bill. Thank you government.
It obviously gets even worse if A and B are in the same sector. Not only is B paying for A, but the government makes it hard for B to compete with A, because A gets preferential treatment and can thus offer prices and services that B never can.
Again, thank you government.
hah, thats simple. the US government wants a cut of that tax money just like the EU! i mean, apple set up its shell corporation in Ireland to get away from taxes over here after all.
well, that was the reason obama was involved, i imagine trump is only involved because he thinks big business shouldn’t pay taxes.
Apple needs to pay and obey EU laws if it wants to do business here!