If you've ever purchased Apple apps through the app store in Europe, you'll notice the developer is listed as "iTunes S.a.r.l". It's similar for web-services pu

If you've ever purchased Apple apps through the app store in Europe, you'll notice the developer is listed as "iTunes S.a.r.l". It's similar for web-services purchased through "Amazon Services Europe S.a r.l" and transactions through PayPal and Skype. All are registered as companies in Luxembourg[0], to take advantage of more attractive tax structures and legal codes while still being within the EU trading zone. Skype seems to be a bit of an exception in that most of its engineering is done there too, not just the financial transactions. Apple purportedly is not much more than a small office[1]. [0] http://www.investinluxembourg.lu/ict http://www.investinluxembourg.lu/ict [1] http://treasureislands.org/this-is-what-apple-itunes-europe-looks-like/ http://treasureislands.org/this-is-what-apple-itunes-europe-...