Silicon Valley policewoman, Daxie Kexing, will not comply with the rules of the technology company, a network of exhausted
Editor’s note: This article from the WeChat public account “Silicon Rabbit Race” (ID: sv_race) by Juni.
On January 21, 2016, Apple CEO Cook left the not-so-cool Silicon Valley and arrived in the cold winter. Brussels.
Cook came here to discuss the tax issue of Apple in the EU with the EU Anti-Monopoly Committee. More precisely, he encountered financial troubles.
On the day of the meeting, Cook performed very abnormally. On weekdays, he was gentle and could come to the other end of the Atlantic. Cook completely forgot California’s warm sunshine, friendliness and relaxation. He was nervous, careful, and constantly arguing for himself, even threatening and playing several times in the meeting. Broken, screaming.
Because he met a strong enemy.
And this enemy, who is not in Silicon Valley, is a character who has been changed by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, a “no one likes” role.
Her name is Margrethe Vestager (hereafter referred to as MV).
Regulatory Humanity
Margaret Westagar (MV) is still very young.
On November 1st, five years ago, when she was in the position of EU antitrust commissioner, she was only 46 years old – the age of a cadre at the office level in China.
This position, in her own words, is a position that “ensures that businessmen are strictly following the law in Europe”.
Maybe her opponents will be deceived by her gray short hair and a fitted dress, thinking she is a good opponent. But her rude eyes and iron fist rulings like the eagle will tell you who is the real hunter.
MV is not a whim to focus on Apple.
MV and her team have been investigating Apple’s tax laws in the EU since 2014. They believe that Apple is using the different tax policies of EU member states to quietly evade taxes. In just two years, Apple’s series of violations of EU laws and regulations were convicted.
Since Apple established its first production base in Ireland on December 23, 1980, Apple has been expanding to Europe and the world based on Ireland. Even Apple’s products in Asia were sold to Europe through the Irish subsidiary, and its profits were all transferred to the Irish subsidiary.
The main reason for this is that Ireland’s corporate income tax is the lowest in the EU – only 12.5%.
The US corporate income tax is 35%. At the same time, the Irish government also gave Apple a big discount on taxation. After the negotiations, Apple can adjust the tax rate to 2Less than %.
With such a “reasonable tax avoidance” approach, Apple has made huge profits in it.
Since the local government allows, Apple is happy to hear that it doesn’t sound any problem.
But MV and her team don’t think so. After a detailed investigation, in 2016, MV released a four-page announcement announcing the decision – that Apple’s serious violation of EU member states The company’s subsidy policy – and the reasons for supporting the decision.
Afterwards, a detailed survey of about 180 pages was also released in August, revealing more of the unknown information of Apple Ireland.
As a punishment, she gave Apple an expensive ticket and asked Apple to pay the Irish government a one-fifth of the $14.8 billion in taxes that accounted for one-third of Apple’s full-year profits!
This is what Cook did not think of, and this is what the Irish government did not expect.
She made a fine, offended the apple, and let the Irish government not eat it. The Irish government does not want this money at all, but also appeals with Apple.
But for the MV, it is the matter that she cares about ensuring that all EU member states have the same interests and powers, that companies in non-EU member states are not allowed to obtain tax law privileges and that fair competition is guaranteed.
It doesn’t matter if you hurt a big man or a big man, the MV cares about the rights of the public and a fair and orderly market. For her, the company is bigger and has stronger bargaining power. It also needs to know the principles and bottom line of the market.
MV’s $14.8 billion ticket was the biggest tax ticket for technology companies in American history at the time.
On a sunny day. The MV was dressed in a smoky blue and long skirt, with a flower near the right shoulder, and a long necklace began to enter the press conference hall.
She looked very calm and relaxed, taking the step of self-confidence, holding the folder with the final decision, and took the meeting with a smile. But when she announced the decision, she still showed a trace of tension. She repeatedly touched