文档介绍：VOA慢速英语：苹果公司的首席执行官蒂姆•库克不满欧盟税收法案
After a twoyear investigation, the European Union (EU) says the American company Apple must pay over $14 billion in back taxes to Ireland.
The EU’s competition commissioner said the company did not pay enough in taxes between 2003 and 2014. She questioned how anyone might think that Apple’s 2014 Irish tax rate of five thousandths of one percent was fair.
The European Commission is responsible for making official decisions for the European Union. The Commission follows rules designed to make sure businesses in Europe compete fairly.
In late August, the Commission announced that it would attempt to recover the back taxes from Apple. It said the company reported earnings for all of the computers, computer tablets and mobile phones it sold in Europe through its office in Ireland. Because of a tax deal with the Irish government, Apple never had to pay much tax on its earnings.
The Competition Commission is not only investigating Apple. It is looking at deals between European countries and major international businesses including Starbucks, Fiat, Amazon and McDonald’s.
Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook denies the EU allegations. He said Apple paid $400 million in taxes in 2014, and his company paid more in taxes than any other business in Ireland.
The tax bill is not only causing concerns in Ireland and Europe. Government