Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) chief Tim Cook cranked up his outrage levels today over the EU’s US$14.5bn unpaid tax penalty.
He called the decision “maddening” and urged the Irish government to appeal after the European Commission ruled Ireland had given the tech giant a “special tax deal” dating back more than a quarter of a century.
Cook told the Irish press that the ruling was “total political crap,” adding: “They just picked a number from I don’t know where.”
“It’s not true — there wasn’t a special deal between Ireland and Apple,” Cook told the press.
“When you’re accused of doing something that is so foreign to your values, it brings out outrage in you.”
Responding to Cook’s comments, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager called on Apple and Ireland to allow the release of the details of the confidential ruling.
“If it was up to me, the confidential version would have been published yesterday,” said Vestager.
The Danish politician denied any political motivation, and said the decision was based upon longstanding laws. If appealed, she was confident the case would stand up in court.
Cook claimed the iPhone maker planned to send some of its overseas cash back to the US next year, although he did not specify exactly how much.
Apple’s international reserves have been particularly divisive as they remain out of reach of American tax authorities.