> In Germany, Apple is estimated (you don’t publish the exact figures) to have generated revenues in the billions last year – of which it paid 25 million euros in taxes.
I assume that Apple paid 20% German VAT on those billions, as well as paid taxes on the salaries of the Germans it employed, and probably several other taxes such as environmental tax on packaging. The article raises an important issue but it's disingenuous to focus just on the profit tax, which is a highly malleable number in the hands of an accomplished accountant.
But since they do focus on profit tax, they should have made it clear why profit on a phone designed in the US and built in China should fall to Germany, and they fail to do that.
I assume that Apple paid 20% German VAT on those billions, as well as paid taxes on the salaries of the Germans it employed, and probably several other taxes such as environmental tax on packaging. The article raises an important issue but it's disingenuous to focus just on the profit tax, which is a highly malleable number in the hands of an accomplished accountant.
But since they do focus on profit tax, they should have made it clear why profit on a phone designed in the US and built in China should fall to Germany, and they fail to do that.