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El Reg reports
Steve Wozniak has spoken out against Apple's tax affairs, saying all companies ought to pay 50 per cent in taxes.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live he said: "I don't like the idea that Apple might be unfair--not paying taxes the way I do as a person.
"I do a lot of work, I do a lot of travel and I pay over 50 per cent of anything I make in taxes and I believe that's part of life and you should do it."
Asked if Apple should pay that amount, he replied: "Every company in the world should."
According to Woz, money was never a factor when he started the biz with Steve Jobs 40 years ago. He added: "Steve Jobs started Apple Computers for money, that was his big thing and that was extremely important and critical and good."
Europe is currently scrutinising Ireland's tax arrangements with Apple over an alleged sweetheart deal with the company. Some have speculated the probe could lead to Apple paying $8bn in back taxes, even though the case is against the Irish government.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Monday April 25 2016, @07:24PM
Money never HAD to be "a thing" with Woz, because Apple was very successful right from the start.
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When you look at the retained earnings and the cash position of Apple, they drain a great deal of money out of the economy compared to the actual benefit they provide. (Yes, they do this by convincing their hipster customers that they are cool, so millions of individual choices).
True, they keep their money in banks and investments which means its never really out of circulation (this actually ADDs to the money supply).
But they keep that cash out of the reach of taxation, which wouldn't happen if they paid larger dividends, paid their employees better, or lowered their prices. In all such cases individuals would hold that cash and pay taxes on it.
On the other hand, I could make the case that corporate earnings shouldn't be taxed at all. Those earnings should pass through to owners.
And the weak point of that argument is companies like Apple which hoard cash. Over 40 billion [yahoo.com] in liquid assets alone. Just held and never dispersed (and when it is spent, to buy some other company, they write that off as an investment - So no taxes again.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by khallow on Monday April 25 2016, @08:38PM
But sure, $40 billion is a lot of money. It's like 10% of the F-35 program or a whole month of Iraqi war in 2006. It's seven long miles of Big Dig construction in Boston or 4% of an Apollo-style flags and footprints manned program to Mars. And it's slightly over 1% of all the stupid shit that the US spends money on every year. But what it isn't is a sum of money that would go far, if it got consumed as taxes in the US.
My view is that private economic activities which don't get converted into grossly inefficient government activities via taxation are a feature not a bug of the modern world. And I am all for that 0% tax rate on businesses.
(Score: 4, Informative) by melikamp on Tuesday April 26 2016, @12:47AM
Apple, which posts something like 15+ billion dollars of profit per quarter, if taxed at 50%, could carry the entire NASA budget, with a few billion left over. This is not nothing. This is a lot of cash, and right now it's being wasted on brainwashing, a.k.a. marketing outreach, a.k.a. consumer education, which includes lobbying and outright bribes all around the world.
Also, we are waiting for a coherent argument why corporations, which are by far the most successful and powerful commercial actors, shouldn't pay taxes from their profits, when you and I pay for the privilege of getting a paycheck. You seem to think that corporate spending is the paragon of efficiency, but in reality the US government is actually quite consistent about putting money into projects for public good, while corporations waste everything they make on fighting competition and unraveling the democracy (US petroleum producers are still subsidized, despite being in the most lucrative market in human history). They may be quite efficient at these tasks, but it sounds like you are clamoring for corporate leadership because they do a fantastic job robbing you at gunpoint, whereas the government would waste your money on relatively slow and inefficient infrastructure improvement.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday April 26 2016, @05:07AM
Apple, which posts something like 15+ billion dollars of profit per quarter, if taxed at 50%, could carry the entire NASA budget, with a few billion left over. This is not nothing. This is a lot of cash, and right now it's being wasted on brainwashing, a.k.a. marketing outreach, a.k.a. consumer education, which includes lobbying and outright bribes all around the world.
Beats what NASA would burn it on. Because at least, Apple is doing something very productive with that money.
Also, we are waiting for a coherent argument why corporations, which are by far the most successful and powerful commercial actors, shouldn't pay taxes from their profits, when you and I pay for the privilege of getting a paycheck.
Because they do vast more for society than either of us ever will.
but in reality the US government is actually quite consistent about putting money into projects for public good, while corporations waste everything they make on fighting competition and unraveling the democracy (US petroleum producers are still subsidized, despite being in the most lucrative market in human history).
Like spy on everyone on the planet? You need a better class of fairy tale.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by urza9814 on Tuesday April 26 2016, @10:42PM
I agree 100% -- developing new science and pushing the frontiers of human exploration can't even BEGIN to compete with making a flashy TV spot!
Yup, my Google Phone and Windows 10 Telemetry Updates would NEVER spy on me!
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday April 27 2016, @02:08AM
I agree 100% -- developing new science and pushing the frontiers of human exploration can't even BEGIN to compete with making a flashy TV spot!
So just how many tens of billions of dollars do you think Apple spends on flashy TV spots? NASA burns twenty billion a year for all that feelgood you're getting.
Yup, my Google Phone and Windows 10 Telemetry Updates would NEVER spy on me!
Notice how we went from Apple and NSA spying to completely different companies and minor league nosiness. But I'm sure it's all the same if you blind yourself enough.