EU tribunal mandates Apple to pay Ireland €13 billion
The tax saga involving the US tech giant is a component of the bloc's broader antitrust efforts targeting multinationals. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The EU's supreme court has mandated that Apple, a major US technology company, pay Ireland €13 billion in overdue taxes. This decision is part of a broader effort by the European bloc to address preferential arrangements between multinational corporations and governments.
On Tuesday, the EU Court of Justice announced its ruling, stating that since the mid-1990s, Apple had capitalized on two specific Irish tax rulings that significantly lowered its tax obligations, thereby benefiting the company. The originally favorable ruling was challenged by Ireland and Apple, leading to the reversal by the EU's General Court in 2020. Nonetheless, in a statement last year, an advocate-general at the ECJ suggested that the lower court had erred legally in supporting Apple and called for a reassessment of the situation.
“The Court of Justice gives final judgment in the matter and confirms the European Commission’s 2016 decision: Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover,” ECJ judges said, as quoted by Reuters.
Reacting to the ruling, Apple expressed its disappointment.
“The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required by international tax law, our income was already subject to taxes in the US,” the agency cited the company’s statement as saying.
The EU has been actively addressing challenges related to major, predominantly American tech firms regarding data protection, taxation, and antitrust concerns.
In a related development on Tuesday, Google lost its appeal against a €2.4 billion EU fine for prioritizing its own services.
Furthermore, in March, Apple received an antitrust penalty of €1.8 billion for its monopolistic practices in the music streaming sector.
Additionally, the adoption of the EU’s Digital Markets Act last year has compelled significant tech enterprises such as Apple, Alphabet, and Meta to modify some of their business practices within the European Union.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
On Tuesday, the EU Court of Justice announced its ruling, stating that since the mid-1990s, Apple had capitalized on two specific Irish tax rulings that significantly lowered its tax obligations, thereby benefiting the company. The originally favorable ruling was challenged by Ireland and Apple, leading to the reversal by the EU's General Court in 2020. Nonetheless, in a statement last year, an advocate-general at the ECJ suggested that the lower court had erred legally in supporting Apple and called for a reassessment of the situation.
“The Court of Justice gives final judgment in the matter and confirms the European Commission’s 2016 decision: Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover,” ECJ judges said, as quoted by Reuters.
Reacting to the ruling, Apple expressed its disappointment.
“The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required by international tax law, our income was already subject to taxes in the US,” the agency cited the company’s statement as saying.
The EU has been actively addressing challenges related to major, predominantly American tech firms regarding data protection, taxation, and antitrust concerns.
In a related development on Tuesday, Google lost its appeal against a €2.4 billion EU fine for prioritizing its own services.
Furthermore, in March, Apple received an antitrust penalty of €1.8 billion for its monopolistic practices in the music streaming sector.
Additionally, the adoption of the EU’s Digital Markets Act last year has compelled significant tech enterprises such as Apple, Alphabet, and Meta to modify some of their business practices within the European Union.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
