Apple and Irish government collared over tax deal

[hidetheelephants]

The EU engaging in a fingerwagging exercise over the Irish government's sweetheart tax deal with Apple; the disputed tax could amount to 19bn euros. Does this mean the EU will investigate the likes of Vodafone etc with regard to tax deals in the UK?

Edited by hidetheelephants on Tuesday 30th August 05:35

[steviegunn]

Where would this ruling leave Luxembourg, surely it's one of the worst for this sort of tax racket.

[Hosenbugler]

The fact is Apple have done nothing illegal. The Irish governemnt sets the tax rates in its own country . If anything, this is nothing other than intimidation of a democratically elected government and the policies it implements in its own jurisdiction.

Both Ireland and Apple should tell the EU to go and swivel. Perhaps the Irish Govt should ask its electorate whether they see the EU actions as acceptable? Five and a half thousand jobs at the Apple hub in Cork .

[Mrr T]

hidetheelephants said:

The EU engaging in a fingerwagging exercise over the Irish government's sweetheart tax deal with Apple; the disputed tax could amount to 19bn euros. Does this mean the EU will investigate the likes of Vodafone etc with regard to tax deals in the UK?

Edited by hidetheelephants on Tuesday 30th August 05:35

There is no dodgy deal with Vodaphone to investigate. It’s a myth and legend made up by self-serving left wing politicians and newspapers. Two minutes google will reveal all.

[markh1973]

Mrr T said:

hidetheelephants said:

The EU engaging in a fingerwagging exercise over the Irish government's sweetheart tax deal with Apple; the disputed tax could amount to 19bn euros. Does this mean the EU will investigate the likes of Vodafone etc with regard to tax deals in the UK?

Edited by hidetheelephants on Tuesday 30th August 05:35

There is no dodgy deal with Vodaphone to investigate. It’s a myth and legend made up by self-serving left wing politicians and newspapers. Two minutes google will reveal all.

And the Apple ruling is more to do with illegal state aid - the tax deal was simply the mechanism by which the state aid was delivered.

[dazwalsh]

This is just the Eu throwing a hissy fit over Ireland's ability to set it's own tax rates and therefore attracting big business from the big boys from silicone Valley.

[Welshbeef]

Ireland do you fancy joining the UK ?

You'll have to have your own currency not the £ maybe the Irish punt and we can have a good trading zone. We can retain the same boarder setup we have now and have had for decades pre the EU.

[Europa1]

steviegunn said:

Where would this ruling leave Luxembourg, surely it's one of the worst for this sort of tax racket.

Would that be the Luxembourg that Jean Clause Juncker used to lead? The Jean Clause Juncker who has now decided that national borders are a bad thing? You couldn't make it up...

[Welshbeef]

Europa1 said:

Would that be the Luxembourg that Jean Clause Juncker used to lead? The Jean Clause Juncker who has now decided that national borders are a bad thing? You couldn't make it up...

Sorry but he is a drunk and mocked for it too.

To be in his position it's abhorrant.

[Deptford Draylons]

EC says pay up.

[Welshbeef]

£11 billion confirmed.


Does that go to Ireland tax OR the EU trough?

[Hugo a Gogo]

Hosenbugler said:

Perhaps the Irish Govt should ask its electorate whether they see the EU actions as acceptable?

good idea, the people are surely all for this sort of deal being made for Apple, after the way their government handled the banks
who needs tax income anyway?

[anonymous-user]

Welshbeef said:

£11 billion confirmed.


Does that go to Ireland tax OR the EU trough?

Good point but I'd bet it ends up in the EU trough. Or Greece in some form or another. Or Italy. Portugal? They're all desperate for cash.

Maybe some of these big businesses will review the attractions of the EU now.

[Hosenbugler]

Hugo a Gogo said:

Hosenbugler said:

Perhaps the Irish Govt should ask its electorate whether they see the EU actions as acceptable?

good idea, the people are surely all for this sort of deal being made for Apple, after the way their government handled the banks
who needs tax income anyway?

The democratically elected Irish Governmnent sets the tax rates in its jurisdiction, it helps to attract busineses to Ireland. Apple alone employ approx 5500 people in Cork. Perhaps the electorate may take umbrage at people beyond their control effectively over ruling their own goverment, being as its those people beyond their control which will benefit from the Apple tax grab, plus of course, effectively putting thousands of jobs at risk and making Ireland a less attractive place to invest.

Who rules Irealand, their own democratically elected and accountable politicians or a bunch of faceless unnacountable EU drones?

Thank fk we are getting out of it. Ireland, do come and join us!

[ReallyReallyGood]

From http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-2923_en...

Press Release said:

In fact, this selective treatment allowed Apple to pay an effective corporate tax rate of 1 per cent on its European profits in 2003 down to 0.005 per cent in 2014.

Wow.

[PurpleMoonlight]

Hosenbugler said:

The democratically elected Irish Governmnent sets the tax rates in its jurisdiction, it helps to attract busineses to Ireland. Apple alone employ approx 5500 people in Cork. Perhaps the electorate may take umbrage at people beyond their control effectively over ruling their own goverment, being as its those people beyond their control which will benefit from the Apple tax grab, plus of course, effectively putting thousands of jobs at risk and making Ireland a less attractive place to invest.

Who rules Irealand, their own democratically elected and accountable politicians or a bunch of faceless unnacountable EU drones?

Thank fk we are getting out of it. Ireland, do come and join us!

Really?

I thought Ireland granted Apple a unique corporation tax rate that was not their legislated corporate rate.

Doesn't seem fair on all other businesses operating in Ireland or the rest of the EU.

[Hugo a Gogo]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Hosenbugler said:

The democratically elected Irish Governmnent sets the tax rates in its jurisdiction, it helps to attract busineses to Ireland. Apple alone employ approx 5500 people in Cork. Perhaps the electorate may take umbrage at people beyond their control effectively over ruling their own goverment, being as its those people beyond their control which will benefit from the Apple tax grab, plus of course, effectively putting thousands of jobs at risk and making Ireland a less attractive place to invest.

Who rules Irealand, their own democratically elected and accountable politicians or a bunch of faceless unnacountable EU drones?

Thank fk we are getting out of it. Ireland, do come and join us!

Really?

I thought Ireland granted Apple a unique corporation tax rate that was not their legislated corporate rate.

Doesn't seem fair on all other businesses operating in Ireland.

and probably no bribes at all involved

who rules Ireland, the people or the faceless unaccountable bankers and businessmen?

[johnfm]

Interesting development.

Popcorn bought and at the ready.

[London424]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Hosenbugler said:

The democratically elected Irish Governmnent sets the tax rates in its jurisdiction, it helps to attract busineses to Ireland. Apple alone employ approx 5500 people in Cork. Perhaps the electorate may take umbrage at people beyond their control effectively over ruling their own goverment, being as its those people beyond their control which will benefit from the Apple tax grab, plus of course, effectively putting thousands of jobs at risk and making Ireland a less attractive place to invest.

Who rules Irealand, their own democratically elected and accountable politicians or a bunch of faceless unnacountable EU drones?

Thank fk we are getting out of it. Ireland, do come and join us!

Really?

I thought Ireland granted Apple a unique corporation tax rate that was not their legislated corporate rate.

Doesn't seem fair on all other businesses operating in Ireland or the rest of the EU.

But isn't that a decision for the Govt to make? They may have wanted to kudos of having Apple there. Plus all the tax they pay the workforce.

[London424]

REALIST123 said:

Welshbeef said:

£11 billion confirmed.


Does that go to Ireland tax OR the EU trough?

Good point but I'd bet it ends up in the EU trough. Or Greece in some form or another. Or Italy. Portugal? They're all desperate for cash.

Maybe some of these big businesses will review the attractions of the EU now.

Well what we are more likely to see is VW get clobbered for many many billions by the US