Apple facing record bill for Irish tax

Thrugelmir

zagubov wrote: »

Can you stop obsessing about an independent Scotland for even a minute! :eek:

Well it's an issue that needs resolving either one way or the other. The SNP keep the topic in the news headlines not me. Pull one lever and there's another correlated impact somewhere else. Politicians normally fall on their swords as statements are made that for one reason or another they cannot deliver. Corporate taxation policy is a key element of the plan isn't it?

This is the forum to Debate the economy and the reality of events. Better than the idle nonsensical speculation that resonates in the MoneySaversArms.

GERS may turn out to be the biggest driver of independence, in the sense that it is being increasingly recognised as a tory mechanism for ritualistically humiliating Scotland, especially during the silly season, when the right wing media can demonise its natural opponents. (much like its doing down here with Corbyn, even as we speak).

Boy you carry one hell of a chip on your shoulder. Soon be a chip on the other one at the rate things are going.

zagubov

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Well it's an issue that needs resolving either one way or the other. The SNP keep the topic in the news headlines not me. Pull one lever and there's another correlated impact somewhere else. Politicians normally fall on their swords as statements are made that for one reason or another they cannot deliver. Corporate taxation policy is a key element of the plan isn't it?

This is the forum to Debate the economy and the reality of events. Better than the idle nonsensical speculation that resonates in the MoneySaversArms.
.

Seems you can't avoid talking about the SNP. So it goes.

AnotherJoe

What I dont understand about this is why Ireland isn't being fined rather than Apple?
Or does that come later? Ireland did after all create those laws, not Apple. If a company employed people on say a 42 hour week because Irish law determined that 42 hours was legal, and then 5 years later the EU decides that nope 42 is illegal, why is the companies fault? Are companies now meant to double guess all laws in a country as to whether the EU will at a later date decide they are illegal?


Unless since any fine on Ireland will be imposed in the same ultra strict way that happens to all the EU countries that break the rules on financial prudence they decided to skip to the end and not impose one anyway?

stator

AnotherJoe wrote: »

What I dont understand about this is why Ireland isn't being fined rather than Apple?
Or does that come later? Ireland did after all create those laws, not Apple. If a company employed people on say a 42 hour week because Irish law determined that 42 hours was legal, and then 5 years later the EU decides that nope 42 is illegal, why is the companies fault? Are companies now meant to double guess all laws in a country as to whether the EU will at a later date decide they are illegal?


Unless since any fine on Ireland will be imposed in the same ultra strict way that happens to all the EU countries that break the rules on financial prudence they decided to skip to the end and not impose one anyway?

No-one is being fined. The EU is ordering Ireland to collect the tax.
It must be the biggest case of someone turning down a huge sum of money in the history of the world.

Thrugelmir

stator wrote: »

No-one is being fined. The EU is ordering Ireland to collect the tax.
It must be the biggest case of someone turning down a huge sum of money in the history of the world.

Interest will amount to another $6 billion apparently.

Money will sit in escrow for years. Until such time as the final court ruling is made. Early days on a long road.

Sapphire

stator wrote: »

No-one is being fined. The EU is ordering Ireland to collect the tax.
It must be the biggest case of someone turning down a huge sum of money in the history of the world.

Why is the EU ordering an independent state to 'collect the tax' from a company, and why only now? Surely it is none of the EU's business? Sure, it is morally wrong for Google to pay little tax, but it is up to a collaborative agreement between different nations worldwide to stop tax avoidance (including in Switzerland and Luxembourg, incidentally), not EU bureaucrats.

I'd guess those same EU bureaucrats are trying to find ways of obtaining money to finance their failing 'project'.

Thrugelmir

zagubov wrote: »

Seems you can't avoid talking about the SNP. So it goes.

As I said. One can only comment on what the news of the day is. I'm sure that the spin doctors will continue to spoon feed the media.

Thrugelmir

Sapphire wrote: »

Why is the EU ordering an independent state to 'collect the tax' from a company, and why only now? Surely it is none of the EU's business? Sure, it is morally wrong for Google to pay little tax, but it is up to a collaborative agreement between different nations worldwide to stop tax avoidance (including in Switzerland and Luxembourg, incidentally), not EU bureaucrats.

I'd guess those same EU bureaucrats are trying to find ways of obtaining money to finance their failing 'project'.

The EU bailed Eire out. Even the UK assisted to the tune of £14 billion via the IMF.

steampowered

Conrad wrote: »

Setting aside the moral arguments of Apples behaviour, is another nail in the coffin for the EU as business now perceives it as intrusive, socialist and over regulated. Another bonus for the nimble business freindly UK

It is really the opposite. You either believe in free markets involving fair competition, or you don't. Apple clearly doesn't.

This was a state aid ruling. This is idea that the government shouldn't be picking winners by giving special subsidies or tax breaks to specific private sector companies, as that distorts competition.

Personally I don't think that closed-door special deals between big companies and governments are a good thing. You just end up squeezing out small businesses who actually pay their taxes.

These are the same rules that (for example) stop France using every trick in the book to block British agricultural exports, as used to be happen.

Tammykitty

If a country wants to grant a company special tax exemptions, it should be allowed.


Apple brought employment to Ireland, the loss of tax revenue was offset by the reduction in welfare payments for those who would be otherwise unemployed.


This has been a method of attracting business for years in lots of countries, including the UK (100% Capital allowance relief for Enterprise zones etc)