Australia hits Apple with $28.5 million bill for back taxes

Apple is getting slapped with the bill after the country has taken aim at complex tax structures meant to shelter revenue from tax liability.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Apple has been told to pay an additional $28.5 million in back taxes to the Australian government, a report out of the country says.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting today that the Australia Tax Office actually hit Apple with the charge in April. According to the news outlet, Apple's Australian division generated $4.9 billion in revenue last year but paid only $94.7 million in taxes.
Apple's tax strategy has come under intense scrutiny over the last year as news of the company's shockingly low tax liability has been made public. During its last fiscal year, Apple paid $713 million in taxes on $36.87 billion in foreign profits -- less than 2 percent of its international profit. Not surprisingly, foreign governments are displeased by that and have been trying to find ways to increase the amount of tax Apple pays.
However, Apple is by no means unique. Just about every major company has established complex structures that allow it to transfer profits across the world and shelter tax liability.
Just last week, the French government announced that Amazon owes it $252 million in back taxes, including interest and penalties.
CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the report. We will update this story when we have more information