Reference no: EM133437369
Question: Apple is headquartered in the United States, where the federal corporate tax rate was reduced from 35% to 21% in 2017. In 2014, when the rate was 35%, one of the highest in the world. Apple paid $8 billion in U.S. taxes, the most by a Fortune 500 company." However, Apple minimized its tax payments by routing nearly a third of its revenue ($74 billion of its $231 billion] through a subsidiary in Ireland, which has a 12.5% tax rate. Apple, through other legal tax loopholes and negotiations, paid a 0.005% tax rate on the $74 billion routed through Ireland. Some people claim that tax avoidance processes like Apple's are unethical. Others claim they are ethical because Apple increased shareholder wealth and operated within existing laws. Critical Thinking
Questions
1. Is it ethical for Apple to take advantage of tax accounting loopholes to avoid paying higher U.S. tax rates?
a. Yes, tax avoidance within current law is ethical.
b. No, tax avoidance, even within current law, is unethical.
2. Why is this the right option to choose?
3. What are the ethics underlying your decision?