1
Apple and taxes
Comprehension
1. What has happened to Apple?
11 billion pounds, pay back taxes to the European commission. It’s the biggest tax bill ever.
2. What is the reason for this?
Ireland has given them illegal tax benefits, which had them paying very low tax percentages,
substantially less tax than other businesses.
3. How have Apple and Ireland reacted?
Both Ireland and Apple say they will appeal and Apple insists is the biggest tax payer in the world.
4. What is the importance of Ireland to Apple?
Its products earn money around the world, but outside America nearly all of Apple’s sales revenues
are channeled through Ireland.
5. What is the problem with this, according to the European Commission?
A head office that only exists on paper and which is non-tax meaning that the large majority of
profits are untaxed.
6. How important is Apple to the Irish economy (job market?)
It employs over 6000 people
7. How much tax was Apple paying at one point? What is Apple’s response to this?
The EC says at one point Apple was paying an effective tax rate of 0.005 per cent, meaning that on
every one million euros in revenue it paid just 50 euros tax.
Apple says all of the expensive research and development takes place in America, which is where it
should pay its tax.
8. What does Apple accuse the European Commission of (4 aspects)?
They want to rewrite Apple’s history.
They ignore Ireland’s tax laws
Unpend the international tax system in the process
It will have a profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe.
9. What is the stance of the White House (2 aspects)?
They are concerned
10. Does Ireland want the money? Why not?
They don’t want it, because they have worked very hard to attract big technology firms.
11. Why could American politicians be happy?
a) They don’t want apple to set of these 11 billion dollars in the tax bill in the US
b) They are unfairly singled out, google is also in the crosshead of the European commission.
12. What would be a good solution to solve this kind of problem? Are there signs of such a
solution?
Coordinated international approach
13. What method do multinational companies, such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple use
to avoid paying taxes?
Offset costs in high tech jurisdictions
, 2
Vocabulary
1. Achterstallige belastingen Back taxes
2. Belastingvoordelen Tax benefits
3. In beroep gaan Appeal
4. Benadrukken Insist
5. Inkomsten doorsluizen via (Ierland) Channel sales revenues through (Ireland)
6. De overeenkomst is onwettelijk bevonden The deal has been ruled illegal
7. Toeschrijven/toewijzen aan Attribute to
8. Hoofdzetel, -kantoor Head office
9. Stichter Founder
10. Vestiging Operation
11. Tewerkstellen Employ
12. Op een gegeven moment At one point
13. Belastingpercentage Tax rate
14. (plechtig/officieel) beloven Vow
15. De beslissing ongedaan maken Overturn the ruling
16. Negeren ignore
17. Op zijn kop zetten Upend
18. Een verregaand en nadelig gevolg A profound and harmful effect
19. Zijn bezorgheid uitdrukken To express his concern , express concern
20. Houding stance
21. Eenzijdig unilateral
22. Onderhandelingen over staatssteun State-aid negotiations
23. In samenwerking met (bijwoord) Collaboratively
24. Belastingmeevaller Tax windfall EX
25. Tegen elkaar uitspelen Play off against one another
26. Tegen een ander opzetten Pitch against
27. Toepassen (regels) apply
28. Compenseren Set off
29. Viseren Single out
30. In het vizier In the crosshairs
31. OESO OECD
32. Belasting op versluisde winsten Diverted profits tax
33. Gezamenlijke pogingen Collaborative efforts
34. Nog lang duren vooraleer iets opgelost wordt To be a very long way off sorting out
something
35. Rechtsgebieden met hoge/lage belastingdruk Low/high-taks jurisdictions
,3
, 4
5 reasons why you want to say no. Also put them in an order, keep the best for last. Best argument
reserve for the end. Doo this for both sides. You speak for your team not just for yourself. And 5
reasons why u are asking group B.
Apple and taxes
Comprehension
1. What has happened to Apple?
11 billion pounds, pay back taxes to the European commission. It’s the biggest tax bill ever.
2. What is the reason for this?
Ireland has given them illegal tax benefits, which had them paying very low tax percentages,
substantially less tax than other businesses.
3. How have Apple and Ireland reacted?
Both Ireland and Apple say they will appeal and Apple insists is the biggest tax payer in the world.
4. What is the importance of Ireland to Apple?
Its products earn money around the world, but outside America nearly all of Apple’s sales revenues
are channeled through Ireland.
5. What is the problem with this, according to the European Commission?
A head office that only exists on paper and which is non-tax meaning that the large majority of
profits are untaxed.
6. How important is Apple to the Irish economy (job market?)
It employs over 6000 people
7. How much tax was Apple paying at one point? What is Apple’s response to this?
The EC says at one point Apple was paying an effective tax rate of 0.005 per cent, meaning that on
every one million euros in revenue it paid just 50 euros tax.
Apple says all of the expensive research and development takes place in America, which is where it
should pay its tax.
8. What does Apple accuse the European Commission of (4 aspects)?
They want to rewrite Apple’s history.
They ignore Ireland’s tax laws
Unpend the international tax system in the process
It will have a profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe.
9. What is the stance of the White House (2 aspects)?
They are concerned
10. Does Ireland want the money? Why not?
They don’t want it, because they have worked very hard to attract big technology firms.
11. Why could American politicians be happy?
a) They don’t want apple to set of these 11 billion dollars in the tax bill in the US
b) They are unfairly singled out, google is also in the crosshead of the European commission.
12. What would be a good solution to solve this kind of problem? Are there signs of such a
solution?
Coordinated international approach
13. What method do multinational companies, such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple use
to avoid paying taxes?
Offset costs in high tech jurisdictions
, 2
Vocabulary
1. Achterstallige belastingen Back taxes
2. Belastingvoordelen Tax benefits
3. In beroep gaan Appeal
4. Benadrukken Insist
5. Inkomsten doorsluizen via (Ierland) Channel sales revenues through (Ireland)
6. De overeenkomst is onwettelijk bevonden The deal has been ruled illegal
7. Toeschrijven/toewijzen aan Attribute to
8. Hoofdzetel, -kantoor Head office
9. Stichter Founder
10. Vestiging Operation
11. Tewerkstellen Employ
12. Op een gegeven moment At one point
13. Belastingpercentage Tax rate
14. (plechtig/officieel) beloven Vow
15. De beslissing ongedaan maken Overturn the ruling
16. Negeren ignore
17. Op zijn kop zetten Upend
18. Een verregaand en nadelig gevolg A profound and harmful effect
19. Zijn bezorgheid uitdrukken To express his concern , express concern
20. Houding stance
21. Eenzijdig unilateral
22. Onderhandelingen over staatssteun State-aid negotiations
23. In samenwerking met (bijwoord) Collaboratively
24. Belastingmeevaller Tax windfall EX
25. Tegen elkaar uitspelen Play off against one another
26. Tegen een ander opzetten Pitch against
27. Toepassen (regels) apply
28. Compenseren Set off
29. Viseren Single out
30. In het vizier In the crosshairs
31. OESO OECD
32. Belasting op versluisde winsten Diverted profits tax
33. Gezamenlijke pogingen Collaborative efforts
34. Nog lang duren vooraleer iets opgelost wordt To be a very long way off sorting out
something
35. Rechtsgebieden met hoge/lage belastingdruk Low/high-taks jurisdictions
,3
, 4
5 reasons why you want to say no. Also put them in an order, keep the best for last. Best argument
reserve for the end. Doo this for both sides. You speak for your team not just for yourself. And 5
reasons why u are asking group B.
