庫克暗示蘋果離岸資金將轉回美國

Apple expects to pay billions of dollars of extra taxes in the US next year when it brings home the offshore cash pile at the centre of its dispute with Brussels, the technology company’s chief executive said yesterday.

蘋果(Apple)首席執行官昨日表示，在將處於與布魯塞爾方面爭端核心的離岸現金匯回國內後，該公司預計明年將在美國多繳納數十億美元稅款。

Tim Cook told Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE, Apple had set aside several billion dollars for the US for payment as soon as we repatriate some or all of its $215bn in overseas cash.

蒂姆•庫克(Tim Cook)對愛爾蘭國家電視臺RTE表示，蘋果已經留出數十億美元用於向美國政府繳稅——一旦該公司將其2150億美元海外資金的部分或全部匯回美國。

Right now I would forecast that repatriation to occur next year, he said.

他說：目前，我預計明年會把資金匯回國內。

Mr Cook had previously said returning those funds to the US was contingent on a new American president introducing corporate tax reform that would lower the 35 per cent rate.

庫克此前曾表示，是否將這些資金匯回美國將取決於新任美國總統會不會啓動企業所得稅改革，降低目前爲35%的稅率。

The argument between Apple and Brussels over a Euro13bn tax penalty escalated yesterday, as Mr Cook called the European Commission's decision invalid and crap and urged the Irish government to appeal.

昨日，蘋果與布魯塞爾之間圍繞一份130億歐元稅收罰單的爭吵再次升級，庫克稱歐盟委員會(European Commission)的裁決站不住腳、胡說八道，並敦促愛爾蘭政府提起上訴。

Dublin was ordered by the commission on Tuesday to claw back up to Euro13bn from Apple after its tax arrangements in Ireland were judged to constitute illegal state aid.

週二，歐盟委員會要求都柏林向蘋果追繳高達130億歐元的稅款，此前，蘋果在愛爾蘭的納稅安排被認定構成政府非法援助。

Apple has said the funds will be paid into an escrow account until an appeal is heard.

蘋果表示，在上訴案獲得審理之前，這些資金將被支付到一個託管賬戶。

Mr Cook lashed out at the commission’s claim that Apple paid only 0.005 per cent tax in Ireland in 2014, telling the Irish Independent newspaper that it was total political crap, adding: They just picked a number from I don’t know where.

庫克猛批了歐盟委員會關於蘋果2014年在愛爾蘭僅按0.005%的稅率繳稅的斷言，他對《愛爾蘭獨立報》(Irish Independent)表示，這完全是政治垃圾，並補充說：他們只是挑了一個我不知道從哪裏來的數字。

The correct figure was $400m, he said.

他說，準確數字是4億美元。

But the commission stands by its figures.

但歐盟委員會堅稱其數字沒錯。

One person who has seen the Apple ruling said that $400m was significantly higher than the total Irish corporate tax liability of the US group’s Irish subsidiaries.

一位看過該裁決的人士稱，4億美元顯著高於這家美國集團愛爾蘭子公司在愛爾蘭總的應納稅額。

This person speculated that Apple reached the figure by including other forms of taxation, not just corporate tax.

該人士猜測，蘋果這一數字包括了其他形式的納稅，而不只是企業所得稅。

Apple subsequently denied this.

蘋果公司隨後否認這種解讀。