Roger Fingas
In the wake of the European Commission's ruling against tax deals between Apple and Ireland, the finance ministers of several other European countries are reportedly considering a share of the iPhone maker's back taxes.
Austria, Italy, France, and the Netherlands are among the countries following the outcome of the Commission's ruling, which is set to be appealed by both Apple and Ireland, according to Deutsche Welle. Companies like Apple "have an obligation to pay taxes in a fair way," said Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, adding that "international tax loopholes are a thing of the past."
"If it's legally accurate, you can be sure that as minister of finance I will take it," said Austria's Hans Joerg Schelling. "We Austrians are looking at it intensively."
Britain's Philip Hammond commented that the European Union is eager "to make sure that international corporations pay the right tax at the right place."
The Commission has accused Ireland of extending illegal state aid to Apple for years in the form of preferential tax treatment, such that in 2014, it paid just 0.005 percent on its European profits — the company uses Ireland to funnel billions in international revenue. Although Ireland might nominally benefit from collecting more taxes, the country has used loopholes to attract multinational corporations and jobs that might otherwise go to other nations.
Ireland has been ordered to collect at least 13 billion euros ($14.6 billion) from Apple, though the final tally could reach 19 billion euros (over $21 billion) after interest. The Commission's ruling reflects growing sentiment against tax havens in Europe and abroad, fueled by crunches on government budgets, and April's release of the Panama Papers.
Oliver Haslam
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53 Comments
Proud to be Dutch, not proud of Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem...
I like the fact the US government was the on who told the EU about this whole situation. First the US government tries going after Apple only to be embarrassed when APple pointed out they are only following the rules which congress put in place. So they turn around and tell the EU to look closely at Apple, then the US turns around and claims the EU is making a money grab for taxes owed to the US. Now we have other countries claiming they are owed money. Yeah this is not political at all. I bet the US thought they were going to forces Apple hand and make them bring the money back and let the US tax them verse some other country.
This just in: increasingly corrupt national governments continue to engage in corruption. More at 11.
Doesn't take long after there's blood in the water for the sharks to start circling.
This is so so so so surprising.