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Right, because who needs the 44billion in net sales in the EU. They tried to avoid taxes, it didnt work... Now they will pay up. Make "only" 30 billion or whatever - End of story
in what universe did they "avoid" taxes??? Ireland isn't smart(/independent) enough to determine its own tax rate? So you support higher taxes? I sure don't - I'm taxed ENOUGH!!
 
Good! I hope it drains the cash reserve enough for them to actually make good products again. If your not sitting on a large pile of cash...you might not be able to risk selling Macs with 3 year old tech in them for a premium. Timmy might actually have to put some thought into product design and not release the same iPhone every year. I really hope the EU sticks it to them.

Yeah, it would actually be good for Apple if they had some fire pointed at their backside to get the intellectual juices going again. Of course, 2017 may be a hell of a year for Apple (in a good way) and we just need to have patience.
 
who do you think will ultimately pay that increased tax rate? the consumer! Ireland had a great deal with foreign companies and got a ton of money - now - apple, and others, have no reason to be there - so they can pick up and go elsewhere - so Ireland will get screwed. tax tax tax tax tax - lets just tax everyone to death - build up our militaries and blow each other up. How much tax dollars do countries really need?

while I am no socialist, if anyone should get tax relief is middle/low income people/individuals, not companies with through-the-stratosphere yearly earnings.
 
Never has "Spot the American" been such an easy game to play.
Guys. In Europe these fines always boil down to slap in the wrist.
It's maddening to watch how these things always play out the same way.
"uhhh, this corporation gonna get fined big time"
*several months and millions in taxpayers to attorney officers later*
EU comission: "Ok guys, you've been warned. Here, pay this €1000 fee and let this be a lesson to you!"

Ridiculous.
 
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Hi, welcome to America, you must be new here. ;)

Oh they will totally increase the "conversion rate" on Euro paying countries to help offset the legal fees/additional taxes. They will absorb it short term and recoup long-term. Good job EU.
 
surprise surprise. apple is just as crooked as everyone else in the world.

Uh, this is a rule change, not a criminal act on the part of Apple.

I know it's hard to understand, but I'll put it in football terms. Before, a receiver could catch a ball with only one foot in-bounds. This is like the NFL saying "well, no, both feet have to be in-bounds for a catch" and then changing every game result to comply with that new rule.
 
world war III won't involve bombs - its going to be a war of taxes. So I assume the European union wants the U.S. to raise taxes on European companies doing business here. Who ultimately will be the ones hurt - us the consumers. Thank you EU for another of your moronic decisions. No wonder England left.

Wait, what?... If a EU company tries to avoid our taxes we go after them - The EU can do the same. Knowing this country - The next thing that can happen is the IRS looking into how they can also get some money from Apple out of this.

We not starting a trade war with the EU over this.
 
who do you think will ultimately pay that increased tax rate? the consumer! Ireland had a great deal with foreign companies and got a ton of money - now - apple, and others, have no reason to be there - so they can pick up and go elsewhere - so Ireland will get screwed. tax tax tax tax tax - lets just tax everyone to death - build up our militaries and blow each other up. How much tax dollars do countries really need?

The ones which are responsible are Apple and their shareholders if they are found guilty, and do you really think Apple will raise prices again by quite a bit in Europe, don't think so because more and more people think iPhones are getting too expensive in Europe, even more people will go somewhere else, read Samsung or others.
 
while I am no socialist, if anyone should get tax relief is middle/low income people/individuals, not companies with through-the-stratosphere yearly earnings.

But that's just it, they are earnings. Consumers didn't have to give them their money but Apple created a superior product and earned the profit. While I agree "loopholes" should be closed, you need to be careful eliminating the incentive to innovate.
 
surprise surprise. apple is just as crooked as everyone else in the world.

Apple paid the tax the Irish Government asked of it

If anything it's the Irish Governments fault, but of course the EU just wants to get the money
I doubt any of us EU residents will see any benefit even if Apple paid the higher values

What I do see is Apple moving its base of operation, and Ireland loosing a lot of jobs
(I also suspect other businesses will do the same)
 
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"going beyond acceptable enforcement of competition and state aid law and singling out U.S. companies"

Perhaps if US companies weren't trying to squeeze to the limits of legality the amount of tax they had to pay, the EU wouldn't have to go after them
 
And people wonder why so many countries are considering leaving the EU. Countries can't even set their own tax rates without meddling from big big brother EU. Ultimately this shakedown will be negotiated way lower than the atttention grabbing headline rate.
 
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The ones which are responsible are Apple and their shareholders if they are found guilty, and do you really think Apple will raise prices again by quite a bit in Europe, don't think so because more and more people think iPhones are getting too expensive in Europe, even more people will go somewhere else, read Samsung or others.
This ultimately doesn't just affect Apple and Ireland - it affects all foreign companies doing business in Europe - and yes - companies will raise prices if their tax rates increase. These may be companies that we're talking about - but when profits decrease employees are affected as well. I'm surprised how many of you support higher taxes. ???????????
 
Good! I hope it drains the cash reserve enough for them to actually make good products again. If your not sitting on a large pile of cash...you might not be able to risk selling Macs with 3 year old tech in them for a premium. Timmy might actually have to put some thought into product design and not release the same iPhone every year. I really hope the EU sticks it to them.

A very strange line of thought. What does one have to do with the other ?
 
Apple paid the tax the Irish Government asked of it

If anything it's the Irish Governments fault, but of course the EU just wants to get the money
I doubt any of us EU residents will see any benefit even if Apple paid the higher values

What I do see is Apple moving its base of operation, and Ireland loosing a lot of jobs
(I also suspect other businesses will do the same)

Apple should pay taxes in a country where they make profit/do business, now all they do is to go to just one country with 2% tax rate and avoid paying more tax in all other EU countries so I guess it's fair to say that Apple IS part of the problem.
 
Are you sure that Apple will want to exclude a region of half a billion people (that's more than the entire population of the US ;)



No, not every company has the resources to actually take these loopholes...

Sure the appeal will take some time but Apple has little to nothing to win, and the longer it takes... the bigger the amount will be (interests and no reduction should that be possible).

The government tax rate of any EU country should comply with EU regulation. Ireland is not doing any different, but Apple took advantage of something Ireland offered and Ireland didn't do anything about it (because it was supposedly benefiting it as well...)

In general the EU legislation in fiscal and economical matters has priority over any national law of any EU member. That's what make the EU special.

Funny how it was a legal for years and now that Apple has a huge pile of cash, all these Gov't are running around trying to get their hands all over it. This is just a money grab for the bureaucrats and it will solve nothing.
 
"going beyond acceptable enforcement of competition and state aid law and singling out U.S. companies"

Perhaps if US companies weren't trying to squeeze to the limits of legality the amount of tax they had to pay, the EU wouldn't have to go after them

Perhaps if the EU wrote it's laws better, it would not be an issue.
 
But that's just it, they are earnings. Consumers didn't have to give them their money but Apple created a superior product and earned the profit. While I agree "loopholes" should be closed, you need to be careful eliminating the incentive to innovate.
You know, buying your own finished product above/below cost from your own company isn't exactly creating superior products.

I love apple's products, but man are they geniuses at setting up legal ways to get around taxes. Frankly I have issues with the size of the company to begin with.
 
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