Apple Japan Unit Reportedly Told to Pay $118m for Underreporting Income

September 16, 2016, 9:06 AM UTC
Apple Holds Press Event To Introduce New iPhone
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks on stage during a launch event on September 7, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Apple Inc. is expected to unveil latest iterations of its smart phone, forecasted to be the iPhone 7. The tech giant is also rumored to be planning to announce an update to its Apple Watch wearable device. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
Photograph by Stephen Lam — Getty Images

An Apple iTunes unit in Japan was ordered to pay some 12 billion yen ($118 million) in tax by local authorities after underreporting income, media reported Friday.

The unit has since paid the amount, the reports said.

The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau determined that the unit, which sends part of its profits earned from fees paid by Japan subscribers to another Apple unit in Ireland to pay for software licensing, had not been paying a withholding tax on those earnings in Japan, according to broadcaster NHK.

See also: Japan Government Panel Says Apple and Google Hinder App Competition

Apple (AAPL) could not be immediately reached for comment outside of U.S. business hours. The tax bureau declined to comment.

 

Apple and other multinational companies have come under much tax scrutiny from governments around the world. The European Union has ordered Apple to pay Ireland 13 billion euros ($14.6 billion) in back taxes after ruling it had received illegal state aid. Apple and Dublin plan to appeal the ruling, arguing the tax treatment was in line with EU law.

Read More

Artificial IntelligenceCryptocurrencyMetaverseCybersecurityTech Forward