Tim Cook, Apple chief executive, mounted an emphatic and unapologetic defence of the US technology group’s tax practices, as US senators quizzed him over congressional charges that the company avoided billions of dollars in taxes on international profits.

“We pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. We not only comply with the laws, but we comply with the spirit of the laws,” Mr Cook said. “We don’t depend on tax gimmicks.”

Mr Cook appeared relatively at ease for most of the time in his first appearance in Washington’s spotlight as he was questioned by the Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations. It had released a 40-page report on Monday night detailing Apple’s use of tax loopholes and subsidiaries in Ireland to minimise its global tax payments.