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"The original decision covered the period from 1991 to 2014. The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required b

"The original decision covered the period from 1991 to 2014. The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required by international tax law, our income was already subject to taxes in the US." how is this not trade war by EU. They are making apple pay taxes from 3 decades ago?

bigyabai 2y ago
Apple sold devices in the EU without paying the requisite local taxes by misrepresenting sales figures and lobbying for exemption through Irish law. They knew that their accounting was dishonest and continued with it anyways. Simply having to pay the taxes you owe isn't a trade war. The FT article is much more clear about why exactly it is harmful: https://archive.ph/gGC2C https://archive.ph/gGC2C
vkou 2y ago
Since ~January of this year, international law doesn't mean anything anymore. But if you think it's still relevant, tariffs against Canada violate international law, perhaps you should get in touch with the US government to have them lifted. Lead by example, and all that.
- apwell23 2y ago
  > perhaps you should get in touch with your government to have them lifted. Lead by example, and all that. ok i will reach out to Indian govt about usa's canada tariffs
potatototoo99 2y ago
They broke the law, Apple and Ireland. Just because Ireland is a country it doesn't mean it can't be subject to laws. > "Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover". The European Commission found that corporate tax rates as low as 0.005% paid by the tech giant represented an unlawful subsidy. Specifically because other companies were not permitted to obtain the same tax arrangements. As a consequence Apple must pay €13 billion, excluding interest, to the Irish Treasury.
- blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
  Did they really break the law? I’m not a fan of Apple and their aggressive walled gardens and general hostility. But I feel like the tax optimization with Ireland is well known to everyone and wasn’t an issue until now. It seems dishonest to go back and demand retroactive taxes afterwards. And I bet they aren’t the only company in this situation so are they being singled out unfairly?
  - Braxton1980 2y ago
    >Did they really break the law? According to the EU's highest court they did and that's all that matters. I think you're trying to say that that if you or the US believes that the EU is wrong regardless of EU decisions the US is justified in attacking. My original comment is pointing out that the current admin seems willing to bully other countries using international trade. So the EU goes after US tech companies, US tech companies flock to Trump, Trump attacks the EU
    - apwell23 2y ago
      > According to the EU's highest court they did and that's all that matters Its like saying Euros shouldn't be upset by american tariffs because they are legal per american laws and thats all that matters. I still don't get why Euros are so freaking upset that USA decided it wants to operate differently. Why doesn't usa have that right. edit: for butthurt euros calling me names below, Apple's claim is that The EU did not have specific rules in place prohibiting Ireland’s tax policies when Apple benefited from them. It even won its appeal on EU court in 2020 on that basis. Its time for countries like India to claw back taxes that european companies didn't pay during colonization.
      - randunel 2y ago
        Your comment before you edited it was > USA can makeup whatever laws it wants and apply them retroactively too Which shows how little understanding you have of this topic. This isn't a new law, at all. The tax has always been owed, because state aid / state subsidy has always been illegal in the EU. No new law is being applied retroactively here. A debt needs to be paid.
Braxton1980 2y ago
1. Which international tax law? 2. It's not a new tax that was applied retroactively it was an EC ruling about how Apple took advantage of the situation. Which was later affirmed by the highest EU court.

bigyabai 2y ago

Apple sold devices in the EU without paying the requisite local taxes by misrepresenting sales figures and lobbying for exemption through Irish law. They knew that their accounting was dishonest and continued with it anyways. Simply having to pay the taxes you owe isn't a trade war. The FT article is much more clear about why exactly it is harmful: https://archive.ph/gGC2C https://archive.ph/gGC2C

vkou 2y ago

Since ~January of this year, international law doesn't mean anything anymore. But if you think it's still relevant, tariffs against Canada violate international law, perhaps you should get in touch with the US government to have them lifted. Lead by example, and all that.

apwell23 2y ago
> perhaps you should get in touch with your government to have them lifted. Lead by example, and all that. ok i will reach out to Indian govt about usa's canada tariffs

potatototoo99 2y ago

They broke the law, Apple and Ireland. Just because Ireland is a country it doesn't mean it can't be subject to laws. > "Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover". The European Commission found that corporate tax rates as low as 0.005% paid by the tech giant represented an unlawful subsidy. Specifically because other companies were not permitted to obtain the same tax arrangements. As a consequence Apple must pay €13 billion, excluding interest, to the Irish Treasury.

blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
Did they really break the law? I’m not a fan of Apple and their aggressive walled gardens and general hostility. But I feel like the tax optimization with Ireland is well known to everyone and wasn’t an issue until now. It seems dishonest to go back and demand retroactive taxes afterwards. And I bet they aren’t the only company in this situation so are they being singled out unfairly?
- Braxton1980 2y ago
  >Did they really break the law? According to the EU's highest court they did and that's all that matters. I think you're trying to say that that if you or the US believes that the EU is wrong regardless of EU decisions the US is justified in attacking. My original comment is pointing out that the current admin seems willing to bully other countries using international trade. So the EU goes after US tech companies, US tech companies flock to Trump, Trump attacks the EU
  - apwell23 2y ago
    > According to the EU's highest court they did and that's all that matters Its like saying Euros shouldn't be upset by american tariffs because they are legal per american laws and thats all that matters. I still don't get why Euros are so freaking upset that USA decided it wants to operate differently. Why doesn't usa have that right. edit: for butthurt euros calling me names below, Apple's claim is that The EU did not have specific rules in place prohibiting Ireland’s tax policies when Apple benefited from them. It even won its appeal on EU court in 2020 on that basis. Its time for countries like India to claw back taxes that european companies didn't pay during colonization.
    - randunel 2y ago
      Your comment before you edited it was > USA can makeup whatever laws it wants and apply them retroactively too Which shows how little understanding you have of this topic. This isn't a new law, at all. The tax has always been owed, because state aid / state subsidy has always been illegal in the EU. No new law is being applied retroactively here. A debt needs to be paid.

Braxton1980 2y ago

1. Which international tax law? 2. It's not a new tax that was applied retroactively it was an EC ruling about how Apple took advantage of the situation. Which was later affirmed by the highest EU court.