undefined | Better HN

0 pointsglurgh13y ago0 comments

I think one naive answer is that US citizens living abroad get credits or deductions for local taxes they may have paid. A more general one is that we already accept the idea that corporations and individuals are governed by different tax laws so "Why shouldn't one be exactly like the other?" has a somewhat flippant reply in "They don't, already, for various reasons, so why should they be?"

But I don't think the objections (or counter-arguments) to Apple's behaviour as simplistic as that - it's just I don't quite understand what the source of the controversy is and was hoping that someone else did.

0 comments

2 comments · 1 top-level

ghshephard13y ago· 1 in thread

Regarding tax credits - that's fine, let's say Ireland taxes at 12.5%, and US at 35%, then all companies would be required to pay would be the difference, 22.5%.

glurghOP13y ago

Pay it to whom, though? Ireland? The US? Does the country with the highest tax rate get to set the global corporate tax rate?

I don't think any developing economy could possibly agree to such a scheme - it eliminates a less-developed economy's ability to compete for investment against established incumbents by offering tax incentives - I think this ends up translating to unacceptable protectionism for any non-economically-dominant country looking to attract investment and compete in the global marketplace. There'd never be a 'Celtic Tiger' economy under such a scheme.

US States, incidentally, compete for business on a similar basis.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse