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Comment by riemannzeta | Hacker News Reader

It seems like such a no-brainer for IRS policymakers to offer Apple (and companies like it) a tax holiday on foreign cash reserves. Smart for US, smart for them. What countervailing political forces hold that back? Is it simply that the US feels like it shouldn't have to negotiate how much a company like Apple should pay in tax?

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It seems like such a no-brainer to simply tax all reserves where the company is headquartered, no? See the problem now?

Let Apple continue to deplete its US reserves until it MUST start repatriating the cash. If they want to be part of the USA, then pay the taxes in the USA.

I don't see how it makes sense at all to offer a tax holiday. If the IRS is going to give Apple a tax holiday, can they give me a tax holiday too?

It makes sense in that it encourages the holders of capital to return that capital to the domestic economy, spending it on employees, R&D, expanding domestic production, etc.

what is 0% of 100 billion? 0

What is 10% of 100 billion? 10 billion.

10 billion is more than 0 dollars, so it makes sense. 0 is what they will get if the keep the rate the same as it is now.

>If the IRS is going to give Apple a tax holiday, can they give me a tax holiday too?

That sure would be nice, I wouldn't mind one. That being said, we don't have billions of dollars to offer, and it's unlikely we have money overseas that needs repatriated.

Your question effectively answers my question.

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