Apple should pay more tax, says co-founder Wozniak

Man who set up tech giant with Steve Jobs says companies should pay 50 per cent rate

Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of a US technology giant Apple, who has said the technology giant should pay more tax. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA Wire
Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of a US technology giant Apple, who has said the technology giant should pay more tax. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA Wire

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says the technology giant should pay more tax.

Mr Wozniak, widely known as Woz, said he believed all companies should pay a flat rate of 50 per cent on their profits.

In an interview with the BBC, he said he did not like the idea that Apple does not pay tax at the same rate he does personally.

“I don’t like the idea that Apple might be unfair - not paying taxes the way I do as a person.

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“I do a lot of work, I do a lot of travel and I pay over 50 per cent of anything I make in taxes and I believe that’s part of life and you should do it.”

When asked if Apple should pay tax at that rate, he said: “Every company in the world should.”

Mr Wozniak founded Apple with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne in the 1970s. Since then, it has mushroomed into one of the most valuable companies in the world.

However, more recently it has made the headlines for using aggressive tax strategies to shelter its vast revenues.

The European Commission is currently investigating iphone maker's tax arrangements here.

Eoin Burke-Kennedy

Eoin Burke-Kennedy

Eoin Burke-Kennedy is Economics Correspondent of The Irish Times