Apple told to pay back €13B in tax by EU

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ordered Apple to pay €13 billion in unpaid taxes to Ireland, concluding an eight-year dispute. The European Commission accused Ireland of providing Apple with illegal tax advantages, a claim that Ireland has consistently contested. The ECJ's ruling confirms the Commission's 2016 decision that Ireland granted unlawful aid to Apple, which must now recover the taxes from the company. Apple expressed disappointment with the ruling, arguing that it was about which government should collect the taxes, asserting compliance with international tax laws. The case, which dates back to tax arrangements from 1991 to 2014, highlights the EU's efforts to regulate state aid and curb tax avoidance by multinational corporations. The Irish government, which has a low corporate tax rate to attract businesses, stated it would respect the ruling but had previously sought to avoid recovering the taxes. The decision is seen as a significant victory for the European Commission in its campaign for tax justice. Additionally, the ECJ ruled that Google must pay a €2.4 billion fine for abusing market dominance, marking another setback for major tech companies in Europe.

- The ECJ has ordered Apple to pay €13 billion in unpaid taxes to Ireland.

- The ruling concludes an eight-year legal dispute over illegal tax advantages.

- Apple claims the case is about which government collects the taxes, not the amount owed.

- The decision is a significant win for the European Commission's efforts against tax avoidance.

- Google has also been fined €2.4 billion for market dominance abuse in a separate ruling.