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Re:A Tax Expert Takes Tim Cook's EU Letter Apart Point by Point by Angostura on Thursday September 01, 2016 @07:23AM (#12404389)
I think there is a difference between saying 'we comply with the law' and being happy when someone retrospectively changes the law and then demands n years payments under the new rules.
Re:A Tax Expert Takes Tim Cook's EU Letter Apart Point by Point by walkingolof on Thursday September 01, 2016 @07:28AM (#12404410)
Nothing is changed retrospectively, in the EU you cant give one company a tax break. Ireland knew this, but went ahead and did it anyway, Apple knew this too, and took a chance.
Re:A Tax Expert Takes Tim Cook's EU Letter Apart Point by Point by d_theorist on Thursday September 01, 2016 @07:58AM (#12404541)
It appears that this is the crux of the disagreement. Does the loophole that Apple used constitute "giving one company a tax break"? There seem to be reasonable arguments on both sides.
Re:A Tax Expert Takes Tim Cook's EU Letter Apart Point by Point by walkingolof on Thursday September 01, 2016 @08:19AM (#12404660)
Yes, simplest way to validate this is to go to Ireland and try the same thing, I pretty sure you will end up paying 12.5% tax no matter what.
Re:A Tax Expert Takes Tim Cook's EU Letter Apart Point by Point by marktheknife on Thursday September 01, 2016 @12:35PM (#12406701)
You would now that they've changed their law. You would not have even a few years back.

Apple's structures are a correct reading of international tax rules. The rules should be changed; Apple should not be punished for following the law.

Re:A Tax Expert Takes Tim Cook's EU Letter Apart Point by Point by james1071 on Thursday September 01, 2016 @09:10AM (#12404933)
Yes-that is exactly what this case is about.
Re:A Tax Expert Takes Tim Cook's EU Letter Apart Point by Point by jbmorgado on Thursday September 01, 2016 @07:28AM (#12404408)
Nobody changed the law retrospectively. The EU law always existed and Apple obviously knew about it.

If Apple asked for the state of Texas for a tax cut in the state of New York and then got fined for not paying their taxes you wouldn't call name it "retrospectively".