Apple accused of receiving illegal state aid in Ireland
Apple's alleged exploitation of a tax ruling in Ireland is getting some attention from the European Commission. In a preliminary finding that labels the treatment the company has been receiving "state aid," Apple and several other large companies, including Google and Microsoft, could see their tax situation in the country change dramatically.
While the company employs thousands of people in the Irish city of Cork, accusations of unlawful tax practices stem from the funneling of money through their operations in Ireland to offshore accounts. This results in a greatly reduced tax burden, and the Irish government has been talking about slamming the door shut on such practices for many months already.
Apple will have a month to gather its argument and present it to the European Commission, though in a statement to Business Insider, the company noted that its tax payments in Ireland have increased tenfold since the launch of the iPhone, asserting that the company has always played by the rules. Unfortunately for Apple, it looks like the rules are the problem this time around.
[via Electronista]
