In two interviews with Irish media, Cook said Apple has done nothing wrong and was confident European courts would overturn the ruling on appeal.
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Earlier: Apple boss Tim Cook has called Europe’s ruling on its tax bill “political crap”.
In an interview with the Irish Independent, the Apple AAPL, +0.09% boss firmly defended the company’s tax arrangement with Ireland, which, according to the European Union, allowed the iPhone maker to pay substantially less tax than other businesses. “They do such incredible work for Apple and we’re moving forward with the planned investments”, he said.
Speaking about the Apple Tax ruling he said Ireland has the right to decide it’s own tax affairs. “There should be a public discussion about it”.
European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager dismissed Cook’s broadside, saying the demand for a $14.5 billion back tax payment to Ireland was based on the facts.
“It’s a false number, I have no idea where the number came from”, he said. “In Ireland and in every country where we operate, Apple follows the law and we pay all the taxes we owe”.
Cook says Apple will continue expansion plans in Ireland as usual, including breaking ground on a new data center very soon, despite the overhanging tax quagmire.
In the past, Cook has said he’s resistant to bringing that money back because the company would have to pay up to 40 percent in federal and state taxes on it.
“In 2014 our global income tax rate was 26.1%”, Mr Cook included.
The EU’s focus on past taxes is “unbelievable”, Cook said, adding that it was “fair” to have a discussion about the company’s future tax liabilities. Ireland did not give favorable tax treatment to Apple.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan said on Tuesday he “disagreed profoundly” with the Commission’s order that Apple should hand over to Ireland unpaid taxes of up to 13 billion euros ruled to be illegal state aid.
Apple said that the decision would be unsafe for occupations.
“The EU, leading the way in the fight for tax justice, has shown that no one is above the law”. “This is a decision based on the facts of the case”, she said. Tell that to the small tech start-ups that go bust because they don’t have access to clever accounting firms or inside contacts at the Irish Treasury. “I want to be really clear that we are very committed on Ireland”.
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Apple has been accused of an illegal deal by basing a headquarters here to take advantage of our low corporate tax rate.
