Apple's tax payments leave a bad taste

Apple Inc, the United States-based tech giant, reportedly paid 452 million yuan ($70.87 million) less tax that it should have in 2013, according to an inspection report issued by the Ministry of Finance.

It said Apple under-reported 8.799 billion yuan revenue and 3.446 billion yuan costs, and overstated 5.354 billion yuan profit.

It calculated maintenance costs, which are irrelevant to sales, as a pre-tax deduction and hence paid 452 million yuan less tax.