“European regulators appear to be wrapping up their investigation of Apple, but their inquiry regarding Google is being stretched out some more,” Troy Wolverton reports for SiliconBeat.
“The Apple investigation, which focuses on the company’s tax practices, is expected to be wrapped up as soon as this month. Apparently with that in mind, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will reportedly meet this week with Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition,” Wolverton reports. “Lew has criticized the EU’s tax investigations, charging that they have unfairly targeted U.S. corporations.”
“Even as the European Apple inquiry appears to be heading to a conclusion, a Google investigation is getting dragged out,” Wolverton reports. “European antitrust regulators postponed the deadline by which the company would have to respond to charges that it has abused its control over the Android operating system.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple followed the law when paying their taxes:
There was no special deal that we cut with Ireland. We simply followed the laws in the country over the 35 years that we have been in Ireland. If the question is, was there ever a ‘quid pro quo’ that we were trying to strike with the Irish government – that was never the case. We’ve always been very transparent with the Irish government that we wanted to be a good corporate citizen… If countries change the tax laws, we will abide by the new laws and we will pay taxes according to those laws. – Apple CFO Luca Maestri
SEE ALSO:
U.S. Treasury Chief Lew set for Apple corporate tax showdown with EU – July 11, 2016
Apple tax probe verdict may come next month Irish Finance Minister Noonan says – June 16, 2016
Irish wonder what to do with Apple tax if EU orders a clawback – June 8, 2016
Apple cash move will not end EU tax probe – April 11, 2016
Analyst: Apple investors unconcerned about potential EU tax bill – April 5, 2016
EU’s Vestager says will not complete tax inquiries of Apple, others in second quarter – May 5, 2015
U.S. demands EU reconsider tax probes of its companies – February 12, 2016
U.S. Treasury official to meet EU antitrust team over Apple tax deals – January 29, 2016
Apple and Google stand by Europe tax deals; Rupert Murdoch weighs in – January 27, 2016
Apple could trigger global tax war, potential breakdown of the international tax system – January 27, 2016
Apple CEO Cook lobbies EU antitrust chief over Irish back taxes – January 21, 2016
Think Ireland’s corporate tax is unfair? Wave goodbye to Apple and thousands of jobs if it’s changed – November 14, 2015
Apple announces 1,000 new jobs in Ireland as EU tax ruling nears – November 11, 2015
Apple tax probe won’t hurt Ireland, Finance Minister Noonan says – October 5, 2015
EU’s Vestager says will not complete tax inquiries of Apple, others in second quarter – May 5, 2015
Apple warns of potential ‘material’ financial damage from European tax probe – April 29, 2015
Apple may have to pay Ireland 10 years of back taxes – April 30, 2015
EU’s plans to tackle corporate tax avoidance hits first roadblocks — February 12, 2015
Ireland’s Prime Minister: Apple has nothing to fear from end of ‘Double Irish’ tax avoidance strategy – November 4, 2014
Maybe their investigations have revealed that Apple worked within the tax rules, but Google’s tax affairs are less clear cut and warrant further investigation.
Stop making sense.