Tim Cook defends tax avoidance claims against Apple

Apple has been defending itself against accusations that it avoided paying tax on tens of billions of dollars in profits.

Chief executive Tim Cook told a US Senate committee that Apple paid all the taxes it owed, complying with both the law, and the spirit of the law.

According to the BBC, he said last year the company paid six billion dollars to the US Treasury, a tax rate of about 30 percent.

The head of a Senate committee panel has accused Apple of exploiting an absurdity in its tax payments.

Apple boss Tim Cook forcefully defended his company's financial practices, saying that the problem is not with the company but the way the US tax law is written.

Cook said that a dramatic simplification of US tax laws was required.

Apple has been accused by The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of being among America's largest tax avoiders.

According to the report, Cook said he believed Apple was one of the largest taxpayers in the US.