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Microsoft Hits $1 Trillion In Total Cumulative Revenue: Reports (mspoweruser.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft has hit a major milestone: $1 trillion in all-time cumulative revenue. The finding was first spotted by Jeff Reifman, a tech consultant. According to him, Microsoft hit the milestone in its last quarter. Interestingly, Apple also hit $1 trillion in revenue in 2015. As for profits, Microsoft currently leads the chart with $265.2 billion with Apple trying to close in with $261.6 billion. "You might expect a company to announce a milestone like this and bask in this incredible accomplishment -- but not Microsoft," writes Reifman. "It chose to stay silent as it faces increased public scrutiny for holding $108.3 billion in earnings offshore (an incredible 41% of its all-time profit) and its history of tax dodging at home in Washington State."Microsoft blog MSPowerUser says it independently verified the numbers. According to which, Microsoft's total cumulative revenue as of last earnings call is 1001.569 billion.

23 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Meh... by Firethorn · · Score: 4, Insightful

    . "It chose to stay silent as it faces increased public scrutiny for holding $108.3 billion in earnings offshore (an incredible 41% of its all-time profit) and its history of tax dodging at home in Washington State."

    Really, that a globally present company might have roughly 41% of it's revenue originate outside of the USA is 'incredible'? I'm surprised it's not higher!

    Also, why not attack the horrible state of our laws that this happens in the first place? Does anybody here seriously pay any more taxes than they have to? Tax avoidance isn't the same as evasion - the prior is the art of using legal loopholes, the latter is illegal.

    --
    I don't read AC A human right
    1. Re:Meh... by Junta · · Score: 2

      Actually, it said 41% of it's *all-time* profit, which is very peculiar. Not revenue.

      Basically it's the bucket of money they have awaiting the next 'tax holiday' to repatriate. As you say, the fault lies with the governments allowing/essentially encouraging these shenanigans. A corporation can look at least somewhat good by voluntarily repatriating their money, but in reality their business won't get much out of such goodwill.

      --
      XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
    2. Re:Meh... by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 2

      I have two tracts with this: money isn't wealth (finance is significant) and the whole concept is ridiculous.

      Cupertino is my favored example for the moment. Apple makes $42.25 billion in revenues and $32.25 in operating expenses, employing 13,000 people at their Cupertino HQ with a combined salary of around $2 billion. Cupertino mayor claims Apple is "abusing them" by avoiding taxes; never mind that Apple pumps 6% of its operating expenses into Cupertino, money which it collects from business all over the world, which California and the Cupertino government taxes the shit out of (8.25% sales tax and 8% income tax, plus municipal property taxes and some other shit). Money gets poured into the local economy off the back of productive output in another country (China), and Cupertino wants to be the recipient of wealth produced in China.

      Business profits are tiny compared to operating costs; Apple is an outlier, with its operating costs 75% of its total revenue. They're also not *exactly* unreasonable to claim they've created shitloads of US jobs beyond their 47,000 total--that's 47,000 jobs fueled by global sales, with Apple getting 37% of its revenue from the Americas (including Canada and South America!). Apple's business requires shipping companies, retail stores, marketers, logistics, warehouses, and all kinds of other labor in other companies--effectively impacting employment in all of these job areas.

      Counter-point: if Apple didn't sell iPhones, the available consumer dollars would buy other things to create the same number of jobs, assuming the same price per unit goods. That's why I said it's not *exactly* unreasonable: their understanding of economics is flawed, but not egregiously so.

      That counter-point is important if you consider all the Chinese labor. American-made iPhones would cost a *lot* more and, if consumers actually bought them, would result in consumers buying fewer products. That would shift Americans off existing jobs onto factory work; and the dearth in shipped goods would reduce logistics, marketing, retail, and shipping, leading to a corresponding reduction in jobs. The additional cost moved onto Americans would prevent the purchase of other goods including things like Spotify and more modern healthcare (we spend more today for more and better healthcare because we can). I've projected the total impact of rejecting 100% of Chinese manufacture as a rough 15 million to 40 million lost American jobs and corresponding wide-spread poverty, a total failure of our welfare system, and a culling by mass starvation; Apple is only a small part of that.

      Put that into perspective with Microsoft. Microsoft sells software all over the world. Microsoft's software is made right here in America; even with lower-cost H1B workers moved to Redmond, those operating costs disperse into spending in the United States, income taxes in the United States, and money flowing *from* India to the United States instead of *to* India *from* the United States. Microsoft has $108 billion offshored, which represents $42 billion in corporate income taxes evaded *over* *its* *lifetime*; the United States Federal income in 2013 was some $2,775 billion, with $2,304 billion from income tax. That means Microsoft has, in its lifetime, kept 1.5% of a year's income from the Federal government; since April 4, 1975, that's about $1 billion/year, or 0.037%,or $2.94 per current American.

      Microsoft has 40,000 employees at Redmond, plus more in Belleview and Issaquah down the road, totaling 42,000 at $100k-$120k salaries, or *FIVE* *BILLION* *DOLLARS* of global revenue coming to Washington State for dispersal into the economy, getting taxed by the United States Federal Government and the state and local authorities, every fucking year.

      Those numbers--for Microsoft and Apple--count only their direct employees; we're not counting their business services. Do they pay for electricity

    3. Re:Meh... by KGIII · · Score: 2

      The funny thing is, the Somalians are governed much more than most other nations. I know, I've been there. They've got enough governance for a dozen nations that are twice their size. They've more government than you can possibly imagine, unless you've been there.

      It's complete with taxation, bureaucracy, paperwork, and (some) method of redress. It's not officially recognized government. It's probably not what you'd call legitimate government. However, it's right full of government - often with distinct borders and spheres of influence.

      Anyone who suggests Somalia is a place without government is retarded. If anything, they're way over-governed.

      What, exactly, do they think warlords are? There's a whole lot of stupid people who simply parrot things they think make them sound witty. Never mind that they've nary a clue about Libertarianism and won't actually take a few minutes (literally) to learn about it. They confuse an economic model with a political ideology and think they're smart. They're about as smart as Ayn Rand, which is to say stupid.

      I'll spare the world my rant but I've got one prepared - just pretend I typed it out and that it was witty and insightful and stuff. Oh yeah, it was funny too. *sighs* I'm not sure if it's apathy or laziness - or both.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    4. Re:Meh... by KGIII · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What makes you think that Somalians aren't taxed? I suppose you're one of those that thinks they don't have any government?

      WTF do you think a WARLORD is? Do you really think think they don't tax the populace? Do you even try thinking for yourself or do you just parrot stuff? Seriously, go visit Somalia. They're probably the most over-governed and over-burdened by governance country on the planet. Just because you don't recognize them as legitimate does not mean they're not government. Just because you're unaware of what is taken from the civilians doesn't mean it's not a tax.

      Seriously, though - go visit. You'll learn something. You'll also find that people are pretty much people - no matter where you go.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  2. What's interesting by SensitiveMale · · Score: 2

    The interesting thing is Apple is a hardware company (makes things) while Microsoft is a software company (prints money).

    1. Re:What's interesting by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

      Microsoft makes:

      - Peripherals
      - Gaming consoles
      - Computers
      - Phones
      - Tablets
      - IoT

      Apple makes:

      - Peripherals
      - Computers
      - Phones
      - Tablets
      - IoT

      Seems like they both make close to the same amount of stuff... They also both make a lot of software.

      So... how is one a hardware company and one a software company again?

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    2. Re:What's interesting by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      Apple owns the vertical stack (hardware and software) for their products. Microsoft makes software because their hardware offerings outside of mice and keyboards sucks donkey balls.

    3. Re:What's interesting by fbobraga · · Score: 2

      tablets are computers: I think GP had wrong separated them in the list :-)

    4. Re:What's interesting by Richard_at_work · · Score: 2

      I disagree, the Surface Book is one of the best computers I have used - I even "defected" from Apple kit, and dont regret it.

    5. Re:What's interesting by camperdave · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's what the exasperated Klingon said.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  3. Re:Microsoft is dieing by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Remember when people said that MS missed the Internet and was going to die. Good times.

    FTFY - Damn kids don't know their history anymore. Now get off my lawn!

  4. Re:Microsoft is dieing by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

    Remember when people said that MS missed the mobile revolution and was going to die. Good times.

    How's that Windows Phone thing workin' out for ya?

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  5. Tax Dodging is relative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Tax Dodge" is all relative. The US Tax code requires any money earned overseas and brought to the US gets an additional tax on it on top of the corporate income tax paid in other countries. This is exactly why corporations leave their profits overseas, because it's effectively double taxed.

    Here's an example. Irish corporate tax rate is around 10% and in the US it's about 35%. USA Corp earns $1,000 in profit in sales in the US, they pay $350 to the IRS and keep $650 as profits to either reinvest in the company by building new capabilities in the US, or distribute as a dividend to shareholders etc. Now USA Corp also earns $1,000 profit in Ireland. They pay $100 to the Irish government, but they're only allowed to deduct what they pay to the Irish government from their profits, so they still get charged 35% on the $900. So they pay the Irish government $100 and now have a choice, either leave the money in an Irish bank account or invest in their efforts in Ireland, or bring it to the US but in so doing they pay 35% on $900 (they can deduct the $100 they paid to Ireland), or $315, leaving them with $585 in profits.

    Leaving them with the best choice they can possible make: leave the money in a bank account in Ireland. THey can still recognize the cash as an asset on their balance sheet, but if they bring it to the US their balance sheet value will drop significantly, in fact by 35% of cash on hand, hurting their shareholders.

    It's that $315 that people say they are tax dodging, but the reality is that money wasn't earned in the US and isn't US profits. They've paid income tax on the profits in the country where those profits were earned, it's done. There's no incentive or way that the US can force them to do anything because that money is under the jurisdiction of another sovereign nation and those nations will not play ball with the US; if that money leaves those bank accounts in other countries it will be a significant blow to those countries' banking sectors.

    What the government should do is declare a tax holiday, not 0% but 5%. There's $2.1 trillion overseas and it's not coming back until the cost of bringing that money here goes down; they want to bring it here because investing in the US by building facilities and sales here is far more productive than other countries. If they make it 5%, the government would get around $105B in tax revenue and the rest of the money would be here in the US for companies to use either distributing as dividends or building new operations and product lines. But no politician will agree to this because it'll be seen as a "tax cut for the wealthy" and every politician who pursues this agenda will be hammered in the next election.

    So essentially we have a mexican standoff; the companies have no reason to bring the money here, the politicians won't risk their careers by making it palatable to do so, and the result is a bunch of rhetoric and BS and nothing happens and the only people who benefit are foreign banks.

    1. Re:Tax Dodging is relative by vux984 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Here's an example. Irish corporate tax rate is around 10% and in the US it's about 35% [...]

      That's a good start... but its incomplete:

      USA Corp earns $1,000 in profit in sales in the US, they pay $350 to the IRS and keep $650 as profits to either reinvest in the company by building new capabilities in the US, or distribute as a dividend to shareholders etc

      Well you forgot about the part where technically the Corp in Ireland owns the company Trademark and charges USA corp $500 to license it. So USA corp only earns $500 in profits locally. They pay $175 in taxes and keep the balance to reinvest locally etc.

      Now USA Corp also earns $1,000 profit in Ireland.

      Well $500 in Ireland. The other $500 was actually earned in the USA but was transferred to Ireland in the aforementioned licensing fees. So only $500 was in Ireland... well actually no ... $495 of that was actually earned in Canada, UK, France, Germany, etc, and similarly transferred to Ireland.

      Only $5 was earned from activities actually in Ireland though, and yes they paid their fair $0.50 share for that.

      But the other $99.50 in taxes corp in ireland was all basically a tax dodge of much higher taxes in many other countries.

      So how does USA corp get the money into the USA from Ireland, since if it transfers it, it pays taxes!!? Well.. it could borrow it from Irish corp? Then its just a loan; the money comes into the US, and a debt to ireland is added to the balance sheet. But since they're really borrowing it from themselves,... and that's just an example of one of the games they can play.

  6. Re:Microsoft is dieing by cmiller173 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Remember when MS said windows would be for consumer PC's and OS/2 would be for professional use? Good times!

  7. Re:Microsoft is dieing by Opportunist · · Score: 2

    Huge oil tankers carry a tremendous amount of inertia. They keep moving forward long, long after the engine has been turned off. Hell, even in full reverse it takes a long, long time to stop them.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  8. Re:Microsoft is dieing by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How's that Windows Phone thing workin' out for ya?

    How much does MS get paid for every Android phone sold?

  9. Re:Microsoft is dieing by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

    How much does MS get paid for every Android phone sold?

    Depending on the features included, Microsoft makes from $5 to $15 per Android phone. They get about $2B per year from Android licensing fees.

  10. Re:Microsoft is dieing by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Actually quite awesome, so far the best mobile OS I have tried :D

    Everyone else says it sucks. This is from a while ago, but it's just as true now as it was then:

    I was speaking with my son the other night and he wants to replace his Galaxy S6.

    I said, "What about a Windows phone?" and then we both just laughed and laughed. It was like I'd told the funniest dad-joke ever.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  11. Re:Not anytime soon by haruchai · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Even companies who caught the mobile revolution early at various points couldn't prosper.
    I remember when Nokia looked unstoppable, and later RIM / Blackberry.

    How the mighty have fallen.

    --
    Pain is merely failure leaving the body
  12. Re: Microsoft is dieing by funwithBSD · · Score: 2

    In 8 years I have only run across H1Bs that have been "re-badged" from client outsourcing, i.e. they worked for a company that outsourced to IBM and were offered a job at IBM, or from companies that IBM bought.

    With facilities around the world, I know more Americans that have moved out of country to work for divisions of IBM then people that have come to American to work for IBM.

    I was just at the IBM Hub outside of Dublin Ireland. I know at least four Americans personally that work there now and their was no shortage of American accents in the lunch lines.

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
  13. Re:Microsoft is dieing by funwithBSD · · Score: 2

    I checked, it is at -1.

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra