Apple paid less than £10 million in tax in the UK last year. Bloomberg
Apple paid less than £10 million in tax in the UK last year. Bloomberg
Apple paid less than £10 million in tax in the UK last year. Bloomberg
Apple paid less than £10 million in tax in the UK last year. Bloomberg

Apple paid less than £10m in UK tax last year


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Apple paid only £9 million ($12.4m) in tax in Britain last year despite raking in more than £1.1 billion in sales throughout the cycle of Covid-19 lockdowns.

Two subsidiaries – Apple Retail UK and Apple UK – posted earnings of £1.1bn and £372m respectively in 2020.

However, the iPhone maker reported a tax bill of only £9.2m for the two divisions.

The figure was significantly less than its tax bill of £39m in 2019.

Apple is the world’s largest company by market capitalisation and is worth more than $2 trillion.

The company, which was forced to close its shops during three UK lockdowns, reported a pre-tax profit of $75m for its two UK divisions last year.

Apple is one of many large technology companies that are criticised for funnelling profits through low-tax jurisdictions.

Last month, G7 leaders signed a deal to tackle tax abuse by large multinational companies.

On Sunday, G20 finance ministers announced their support the historic shake-up in tax laws.

The backing of the world's 19 biggest economies and the European Union will help ensure the tax revolution becomes a reality after eight years of intense negotiations.

The principle of the agreement is that multinationals would have to pay a minimum tax rate of at least 15 per cent in each country they operate.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the plans to make technology companies pay more tax was "discriminatory against US firms".

Meanwhile, Apple defended its record of paying tax in the UK.

“At Apple, we respect and support the important role taxes play in the economic growth and well-being of nations,” a spokesman said.

“As the biggest taxpayer in the world, we pay all taxes owed in accordance with each country’s laws and regulations everywhere we operate in the world. We also have been open about our strong support of the OECD’s development of a new inclusive tax framework.”

Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

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Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Updated: July 12, 2021, 11:26 AM