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EU Finance Ministers Line Up Behind $21B Tax Ruling Against Apple (herald-dispatch.com)
An anonymous Slashdot reader quotes the Associated Press: Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem urged Apple Saturday to "get ready" to pay up, as he and counterparts from other EU nations lined up behind a finding that the technology giant owes billions of euros due to more than a decade of improperly low taxation. Apple's bill could reach 19 billion euros ($21 billion) with interest, and both the company and Ireland, Apple's European headquarters are appealing the European Commission ruling. But on the last day of an EU finance ministers' meeting focused on ways to harmonize tax rules for international companies, Dijsselbloem told reporters that these "have an obligation to pay taxes in a fair way."
"International tax loopholes are a thing of the past," he said. Apple will have to pay back taxes both in the United States and Europe, he added, "so get ready to do that." Philip Hammond, his British counterpart, said the EU was keen "to make sure that international corporations pay the right tax at the right place. That's the fair way to do it, and we are going to make sure it happens."
Austria, France, and Italy are reportedly also watching the case closely.
"International tax loopholes are a thing of the past," he said. Apple will have to pay back taxes both in the United States and Europe, he added, "so get ready to do that." Philip Hammond, his British counterpart, said the EU was keen "to make sure that international corporations pay the right tax at the right place. That's the fair way to do it, and we are going to make sure it happens."
Austria, France, and Italy are reportedly also watching the case closely.
Ever read about how IKEA is organized? Clean that shit up, you tulip-growing windmill lovers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Mostly random stuff.
Oh nice. Who says you owe back taxes? The govt. who determines the value of those taxes? The govt. no room for abuse here. Why bother with a trial?
Apple dealt in good faith with the Irish government and paid the taxes Ireland demanded. At no time was the tax rate hidden from the EU. Thus this is entrapment by the EU, and the appropriate EU officials should be jailed for it.
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He also claimed that the deal was made in contravention of existing EU treaties and laws, despite the fact that the EU itself did not even exist.
If you don't pay your taxes, there doesn't need to be a judge or trial to collect those back taxes
So if some politicians whip up the mob into enough of a frenzy by claiming you've done something wrong, no due process for you. Got it.
Do you understand that the court system is part of the government too?
Probably better than you do. But given that I said "some politicians" and not "the government," I'm not sure of your point.
And it wasn't "the mob" who said Apple did something wrong.
Again, if you go back and read what I actually wrote, "claiming you've done something wrong" is how "some politicians whip up the mob into enough of a frenzy."
With the distractions out of the way, I'd love to hear the rationale for your original--and I think incredibly short-sighted--proposition that, once a political body declares you owe back taxes, "there doesn't need to be a judge or trial to collect those back taxes." First they came for Apple....