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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: 2, Disagree) by curunir_wolf on Monday April 25 2016, @07:56PM
Corporations don't pay taxes. At all. Even when they are making a profit. It's all passed on to the consumer, where all taxes ultimately come from.
Woz should know that, but apparently he always had so much money he never had to worry about it, so left all that up to the accountants. You know, the guys who decide what they can sell stuff for to make up for all the expenses, and where to collect all their revenue based on the tax treatment.
I am a crackpot
(Score: 3, Interesting) by edIII on Monday April 25 2016, @08:48PM
Which is why I have the utterly crazy idea to just tax electronic transactions themselves. If you're a corporation it is a requirement that all of your transactions go through a bank with proper oversight. It's all centralized, so take advantage of that.
The people, who are suffering, don't have to a pay a tax if they exchange cash or barter on hand. If they wish to enjoy the convenience of electronic cash, safe crypto currency (which *might* even be anonymous), or debt based instruments then subject themselves to the tax. I'm betting if the government wanted they could administrate a bunch of different crypto currency chains for the public, while still being anonymous for the people. Operated by a civilian board with elected members possibly. Regardless, it is NOT illegal to conduct a transaction outside of the system if you're a citizen, and the value is less than X amount of dollars. At worst, you're sentenced to community service to around picking up trash or some other basic city need.
The corporations, who are posting record profits, have all the sophistication and resources to suffer the regulatory burdens. With the availability of outsourcing, and their long demonstrated prowess in managing foreign workers, such clerical and accounting needs can be had quite cheaply for them. Therefore, aAll transactions for corporations must be tracked and accountable to the IRS, at any time, in any place, in any data center, etc. As an aside, I think we need to start training the IRS on how to handle assault rifles and other needed armaments to deal with visiting corporations.
The government simply takes what it needs by "dipping its hand in the river", and we all set limits on just how deep they can shove their hands in. The deeper they fist us, the more commensurate increases in reach-around quality we demand in the form of social programs and free bling. For every X citizens served, we'll even give them an aircraft carrier or two, or some other toys they're screaming for today.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by dry on Tuesday April 26 2016, @06:10AM
Of course corporations pay taxes. They have to pay their workers enough to cover their workers taxes. That is why they have these memes going, they'd love if your taxes went down so they could pay you less.
Then there are all the companies that are already charging as much as the market will bear. If Apple raised their prices, would they move as much product? Same with Walmart, how much could they raise their prices before someone else would under sell them as having a few millions profit is good enough.
Of course Walmart represents the worst, a super rich company leeching off the taxpayers (by paying so little that employees need food stamps etc and telling their employees how to collect)