Earlier in the week, Apple was hit by a European Commission decision to pay the sum of 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland. Apple immediately refuted any wrongdoing and it has already been said that the Irish government will appeal. Apple CEO Tim Cook continued this tirade in the Irish press today, with a column in The Independent newspaper and a radio interview on Rare.
Cook says that the effective tax rate (0,005%) reported by the Commission is false and also classified it as "political rubbish". He says that Apple has actually paid $ 400 million Euros in Ireland the same year and believes that it was the largest contributor in the country that year.
Cook says that Apple to continue its expansion plans in Ireland, as usual, including the construction of a new data center very soon, despite the controversy over taxes. It is believed that both Apple like Ireland will succeed on appeal. He says that "no one did anything wrong here and we have to be united." Cook says that Apple stands out for paying Ireland's tax rate of 12,5% and the company has never had a special treatment for the reduction of these.
“It has not diminished one iota, we are fully committed to Ireland. We consider the team to be world class. They do this kind of incredible work for Apple and we are moving forward with planned investments, "he said.
Irish government officials are locked in an internal battle over whether to fight the EU in court or not. Some members of the Irish coalition government believe that they should accept the € 13 million as an injection of cash into public funds.
Cook continued to push for tax reform around the world, but says any changes should not happen retroactively, as the European Commission is trying to act. Irish government meets again on Friday to discuss his next move on the case.