Tim Cook Says 'Ireland Is Being Picked On,' Tax Bill Is 'Total Political Crap'

In an interview with the Irish Independent, Cook said the EU's ruling that Apple owes the Irish government billions of dollars is "total political crap."

At the heart of the ruling, Apple improperly routed taxable income to its Irish subsidiary with no accountable head office. As such, the company allegedly paid a tax rate of 0.005 percent in Ireland throughout 2014 — a figure Cook said is "false" and he has "no idea where the number came from."

Related Link: What Does The EU's Apple Tax Bill Have To Do With Brexit?

Cook dismissed this as being "total political crap" and pointed out that Apple is one of, if not the, largest tax payers in the entire country, having paid $400 million to the government in 2014.

"No one did anything wrong here and we need to stand together," Cook added. "Ireland is being picked on and this is unacceptable."

Cook continued that Apple employs 6,000 people in the country. The relationship between the two dates back to 1998 when Apple was "within weeks" of bankruptcy. His final comments suggest that despite the "political crap," he has no intention of immediately ending operation in the country.

"It has not been diminished one iota, we are completely committed to Ireland. We view the team there is world-class."

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