The facts as I understand them are.
The European commission has ruled that Apple must pay the Irish Government €13bn in tax.
The Irish government along with Apple had argued that that no taxes were due.
Ireland had a tax regime that allowed Apple pay very low amounts of tax. The commission has ruled that this amounts to unfair state aid, in the amount of €13bn.
The Irish government (and/or Apple) can appeal this ruling. Should it?
Arguments for appealing.
The generous tax regime was put in place to attract companies to Ireland.
The government should defend its policies, and those companies which complied with the Irish law.
We are entitled to set our own tax rates.
Arguments for not appealing.
€13bn
The tax policies amount to an effort to gain unfair competitive advantage over other countries.
Ireland should develop other more durable advantages to bolster its economy rather than rely on an unsustainable tax giveaway.
In my opinion Ireland must appeal, The Government introduced the tax policy it should defend its own actions. Investors will not expect to see Apple abandoned when the existing policy is challenged.
What we need is some really bad lawyers.
The European commission has ruled that Apple must pay the Irish Government €13bn in tax.
The Irish government along with Apple had argued that that no taxes were due.
Ireland had a tax regime that allowed Apple pay very low amounts of tax. The commission has ruled that this amounts to unfair state aid, in the amount of €13bn.
The Irish government (and/or Apple) can appeal this ruling. Should it?
Arguments for appealing.
The generous tax regime was put in place to attract companies to Ireland.
The government should defend its policies, and those companies which complied with the Irish law.
We are entitled to set our own tax rates.
Arguments for not appealing.
€13bn
The tax policies amount to an effort to gain unfair competitive advantage over other countries.
Ireland should develop other more durable advantages to bolster its economy rather than rely on an unsustainable tax giveaway.
In my opinion Ireland must appeal, The Government introduced the tax policy it should defend its own actions. Investors will not expect to see Apple abandoned when the existing policy is challenged.
What we need is some really bad lawyers.