Gaming IndustryEurope’s top court orders Apple to fork over $14 billion in unpaid taxes to Ireland, even though the Irish tried to let the tech giant wriggle out of itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Gaming IndustryEurope’s top court orders Apple to fork over $14 billion in unpaid taxes to Ireland, even though the Irish tried to let the tech giant wriggle out of itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Peter Dazeley via Getty)
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued a final judgement in an eight-year legal case, and ordered Apple to pay the Republic of Ireland an eye-watering €13 billion ($14 billion) in unpaid taxes.In its ruling(via BBC) the ECJ said it “confirms the European Commission’s 2016 decision: Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover.”
Apple has little choice but to suck it up, so it’s having a bit of a whine.
“This case has never been about how much tax we pay, but which government we are required to pay it to,” says an Apple statement. “We always pay all the taxes we owe wherever we operate and there has never been a special deal.
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In something of a red letter day for fans of corporate schadenfreude, the ECJ also gave Google a bit of a shoeing, ruling that it must pay a $2.65 billion (€2.4bn) fine for market dominance abuse relating to how it offered shopping comparisons to users. This fine was originally levied in 2017 and at the time was the largest ever issued, and Google’s been appealing it ever since.
“Today is a huge win for European citizens and tax justice,” boomed EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, who has spent much of her tenure pursuing the tax arrangements of Big Tech companies within the European Union. “In its final judgement, [the ECJ] confirms [the EC] 2016 decision: Ireland granted illegal aid to Apple.”
Both of these judgements are final. So go fetch that tiny violin.
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