Facebook Finds Grass Greener In Ireland

theodp writes "Facebook announced it has chosen tax-haven Dublin for its international HQ, but not all are buying COO Sheryl Sandberg's line about local world-class talent being the motivation behind the move. The Irish Times recently reported that Irish subsidiaries owned by US multinationals are opting to convert to unlimited liability status, concealing the financial performance of their Irish operations from public view. They include Microsoft's incredibly profitable Irish subsidiaries Round Island One and Flat Island Company, Google Ireland Holdings, and a subsidiary of Apple Computer. The conversions have occurred as US tax authorities have increased their scrutiny of international mechanisms used by American multinationals to reduce their taxes at home."

It's not the taxes or the talent

[reverseengineer]

It's the Guinness. Just tastes better the closer you are to St. James's Gate.

Re:I guess they need to save money while they can

[sakdoctor]

Viol8, you've been bitten by a zombie!
Click here to transfer all your private information to a untrusted 3rd party.

Corporate Haven

[Stanistani]

...and they say there are no snakes in Ireland?
Where's St. Patrick when you really need him?

Re:Corporate Haven

[Ron_Fitzgerald]

Wait...what!?! St. Patrick means more than a one day celebration to get stinking pissed with all your friends? Damn the misleading parade.

Re:the US tax code

[Ron_Fitzgerald]

Have you ever tried taking a piece of turkey away from a kitten?

Re:the US tax code

[ubrgeek]

> You can no longer say that "the house always wins"...

You're right. Sometimes it's the Senate.

Ummm I think I am missing the analogy...

[GlobalColding]

Sorry, thats what you get from a mind polluted by LOLCATS.

Re:They're not the only ones

[Anonymous Coward]

But they make foreigners who apply wear those stupid "Kiss Me I'm Irish" t-shirts for a day before they are eligible.

I was thinking more in terms of LOLCATS

[GlobalColding]

Joo Wantz Mah Turkee? Joo am teh fuxx0red!

Note to Potential American Emigrants to Ireland:

[aquatone282]

Shillelaghs, tweed caps, and green t-shirts with orange "I <heart> Ireland" printing are NOT cool.

Re:OK lets cut the crap.

[Pollardito]

you mean the small ads in the back of The Economist aren't offers to talk live one-on-one to a real, fun, flirty economist from your area?

Re:Local world-class FINANCIAL talent

[Carewolf]

A race to bottom! It is on!!!

P.S. I am going to let you win, and stay up here in the sunlight.