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Well I don't see any issue repatriating taxed profits. After all they go to a different market to make a profit, right? The issue is when they don't pay their

Well I don't see any issue repatriating taxed profits. After all they go to a different market to make a profit, right? The issue is when they don't pay their fair share of tax by using various tax evasion schemes more or less "legal".

anonymousDan 9y ago
The reason why they don't pay their fare share of tax is down to US repatriation laws, nothing to do with Ireland: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-biggest-tax-scam-ever-20140827 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-biggest-tax-sc... The reason they pay so little tax in the EU is that in line with international law they pay it in the country where most of the innovation that drives those profits occurs, i.e. the US. Or at least they would if the US wasn't basically using its weak repatriation laws as a way of giving its companies a competitive edge against the EU. The moves by France et al can be viewed as a way to address this, but I imagine it would require major changes to international accounting rules and I would be surprised if there wasn't retaliation from the US. I guess my point is you can't really blame Ireland for not doing this unilaterally. Furthermore why should Ireland increase its corporation tax rate when it is explicitly outside the competence of the EU?
- themihai 9y ago
  >> they pay it in the country where most of the innovation that drives those profits occurs, i.e. the US. I believe that's quite unfair and wrong and pretty much BS. You ignore the fact that by allowing a "monster" company like Apple to sell in your country you undermine any potential local manufacturer. See the internet industry in China. Would there be Baidu, Alibaba, Weibo etc leaders in the industry without protectionist policies?I highly doubt it! You would see Google, Amazon, Facebook and Twitter. You ignore the fact the the profit made in EU helps Apple to innovate in the US. Without investment/money there is little innovation. Paying taxes in US for products sold in EU is like Ikea planting trees in Germany to make up for the ones chopped off in Canada. The point is to give back where you make profit, at the point of sale otherwise you end-up with wastelands. You can do that by paying taxes(so that the local gov. can invest on your behalf) or by investing in the local community(i.e. jobs/R&D).

anonymousDan 9y ago

The reason why they don't pay their fare share of tax is down to US repatriation laws, nothing to do with Ireland: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-biggest-tax-scam-ever-20140827 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-biggest-tax-sc... The reason they pay so little tax in the EU is that in line with international law they pay it in the country where most of the innovation that drives those profits occurs, i.e. the US. Or at least they would if the US wasn't basically using its weak repatriation laws as a way of giving its companies a competitive edge against the EU. The moves by France et al can be viewed as a way to address this, but I imagine it would require major changes to international accounting rules and I would be surprised if there wasn't retaliation from the US. I guess my point is you can't really blame Ireland for not doing this unilaterally. Furthermore why should Ireland increase its corporation tax rate when it is explicitly outside the competence of the EU?

themihai 9y ago
>> they pay it in the country where most of the innovation that drives those profits occurs, i.e. the US. I believe that's quite unfair and wrong and pretty much BS. You ignore the fact that by allowing a "monster" company like Apple to sell in your country you undermine any potential local manufacturer. See the internet industry in China. Would there be Baidu, Alibaba, Weibo etc leaders in the industry without protectionist policies?I highly doubt it! You would see Google, Amazon, Facebook and Twitter. You ignore the fact the the profit made in EU helps Apple to innovate in the US. Without investment/money there is little innovation. Paying taxes in US for products sold in EU is like Ikea planting trees in Germany to make up for the ones chopped off in Canada. The point is to give back where you make profit, at the point of sale otherwise you end-up with wastelands. You can do that by paying taxes(so that the local gov. can invest on your behalf) or by investing in the local community(i.e. jobs/R&D).