• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026

3

Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026

3

Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
Tech

The simple tax idea that Apple loves

Jeff John Roberts
By
Jeff John Roberts
Jeff John Roberts
Editor, Finance and Crypto
Down Arrow Button Icon
Jeff John Roberts
By
Jeff John Roberts
Jeff John Roberts
Editor, Finance and Crypto
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 20, 2015, 1:21 PM ET

It seems like a win-win: tech firms like Apple (GOOG) get to bring home piles of cash parked overseas, while America gets to upgrade its infrastructure. But can it happen?

Take a listen to the short video above in which Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) describes the bipartisan tax reform he’s been working on with Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH).

“The companies make a fortune overseas. They’d rather bring the money back here,” says Schumer, explaining a proposal that would let companies temporarily avoid the high U.S. corporate tax rate.

That rate, which is 35%, is considerably higher than other Western countries, and has created an incentive for tech companies to attempt exotic tax gimmicks like the “double Irish” and to just leave the money overseas. The amounts at stake are staggering. As Fortune reported earlier this year, Apple’s overseas cash hoard is now at $158 billion.

While Republicans support cutting the tax rate to be more in line with other countries, many Democrats balk at the idea of giving corporations a break. That is why the Schumer/Portman compromise plan, which still lacks a full set of details (a similar idea floated in May by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rand Paul (D-KY) called for a one-time 6.5% tax holiday), would use part of any tax receipts from repatriated money for upgrading infrastructure.

 

“So a lot of the Democrats who don’t want to lower the corporate rate will be brought on board because [the plan] will fund highways,” said Schumer, adding the tech industry is fully behind the plan. “They love this idea. I’ve talked to Tim Cook about it”

Unfortunately, just because an idea is popular and bipartisan doesn’t mean it will make it through Congress. While a New York Times report suggested the Schumer-Portman plan was gaining steam in July, the Senate is now in summer recess and, as presidential primary season heats up, it will be increasingly difficult to pass major laws of any kind.

The upshot is U.S. companies may have to wait until after the 2016 election for any progress. In the meantime, they will keep turning to controversial gimmicks like inversions or, as e-commerce marketplace Etsy just did, exploit the same old Irish loopholes.

Sen. Schumer made the remarks on July 31, when he dropped by Fortune to discuss New York tech policy, and how he is teaming up with his famous cousin, Amy (of “Trainwreck” fame), on a gun control initiative.

About the Author
Jeff John Roberts
By Jeff John RobertsEditor, Finance and Crypto
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Jeff John Roberts is the Finance and Crypto editor at Fortune, overseeing coverage of the blockchain and how technology is changing finance.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Traders sitting at computers react
InvestingStock
AI stocks are recovering after suddenly tanking last week as oil prices drop more than 3%
By Stan Choe and The Associated PressJune 9, 2026
3 hours ago
MIT researchers made a wristband to teach robots how to do housework and surgery
AIRobots
MIT researchers made a wristband to teach robots how to do housework and surgery
By The Associated Press and Rodrique NgowiJune 9, 2026
3 hours ago
Artistic drawing of two employees using several tools at once
AIefficiency
Why dbt Labs CEO views AI efficiency and creativity as the same thing
By Sage LazzaroJune 9, 2026
4 hours ago
Reward or threat? Omnisend offers quarterly raises for employees who use AI to drive business impact—and says those who don’t will get left behind
AIMarketing
Reward or threat? Omnisend offers quarterly raises for employees who use AI to drive business impact—and says those who don’t will get left behind
By Sage LazzaroJune 9, 2026
4 hours ago
Artistic rendering of complex systems being simplified by two workers
AILumen Technologies
How Lumen’s ‘maniacal focus’ on KPIs drove measurable AI impact across use cases and the company at large
By Sage LazzaroJune 9, 2026
4 hours ago
AI agents are flattening corporate hierarchies. Here’s how companies—and managers—can develop a new playbook
AIManagement
AI agents are flattening corporate hierarchies. Here’s how companies—and managers—can develop a new playbook
By Sharon GoldmanJune 9, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
Environment
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
21 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
Success
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
By Preston ForeJune 7, 2026
2 days ago
'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO
Economy
'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO
By Jim EdwardsJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
Economy
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
By Nick LichtenbergJune 7, 2026
2 days ago
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
18 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.