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Ireland is to close a tax loophole used by Apple | Ireland is to close a tax loophole used by Apple |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ireland plans to shut a tax arrangement used by Apple to shelter $40bn (£25bn) from taxation. | Ireland plans to shut a tax arrangement used by Apple to shelter $40bn (£25bn) from taxation. |
Apple, and other firms, have been able to funnel profits into Irish subsidiaries or "ghost companies" that had no declared tax residency anywhere in the world. | Apple, and other firms, have been able to funnel profits into Irish subsidiaries or "ghost companies" that had no declared tax residency anywhere in the world. |
On Tuesday, the Irish government said it planned to make it illegal for a company to have no tax domicile. | On Tuesday, the Irish government said it planned to make it illegal for a company to have no tax domicile. |
But firms would be able to nominate any country as their tax residence. | But firms would be able to nominate any country as their tax residence. |
That includes countries such as Bermuda which offer zero tax rates. | That includes countries such as Bermuda which offer zero tax rates. |
Because of that, tax experts say that the change announced on Tuesday will not make much difference to the amount of tax paid by Apple. | Because of that, tax experts say that the change announced on Tuesday will not make much difference to the amount of tax paid by Apple. |
Google and Microsoft have Irish subsidiaries that legally channel money to Bermuda where they pay zero tax. | Google and Microsoft have Irish subsidiaries that legally channel money to Bermuda where they pay zero tax. |
But Ireland's Finance Minister Michael Noonan said his country was committed to reform. | |
"Let me be crystal clear. Ireland wants to be part of the solution to this global tax challenge, not part of the problem," he said. | "Let me be crystal clear. Ireland wants to be part of the solution to this global tax challenge, not part of the problem," he said. |
Back in May, a US Senate committee said Apple had used "a complex web of offshore entities" to avoid paying billions of dollars in US income taxes. | Back in May, a US Senate committee said Apple had used "a complex web of offshore entities" to avoid paying billions of dollars in US income taxes. |
Google, Microsoft and Apple say they follow tax rules in every country where they operate. | Google, Microsoft and Apple say they follow tax rules in every country where they operate. |
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