[megablast]

Isn't Apple's problem that a lot of this money is overseas, from overseas operations, and could not easily be bought back into the US?

[jacques_chester]

My understanding is that repatriating the money to the USA would cause it be taxed, even if it's already been taxed in the country of origin. I believe that the USA is one of the few countries that is prepared to tax extra-territorial earnings, but I am not a tax accountant.

[vessenes]

In short, this is generally true.

In long form, this might or might not be true, depending on tax-treaties and jurisdictions.

Back to short form, smarter people than you or me have worked out all the angles for Apple on this already.

[jacques_chester]

> Back to short form, smarter people than you or me have worked out all the angles for Apple on this already.

Exactly.

[eru]

What would they do with the money in the US that they can't do elsewhere?

[Retric]

Dividends