EU top court confirms Apple's €13 billion tax bill in the EU

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled against Apple and Google in significant tax and antitrust cases. Apple is required to repay €13 billion ($14.3 billion) in back taxes to the European Union, stemming from a deal with Ireland deemed unlawful by the court. The ECJ stated that Ireland must recover this aid, which Apple argues is subject to taxation in the United States, leading to claims of double taxation. The case against Google, which began in 2017, involved accusations of the company favoring its own shopping links in search results, violating EU antitrust laws. The ECJ upheld a €2.4 billion fine against Google, stating that its actions were discriminatory and not competitive. Both rulings are final and cannot be appealed. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager hailed the decisions as victories for tax justice and digital fairness, while Apple criticized the ruling as an attempt to retroactively alter tax rules.

- The ECJ ruled that Apple must repay €13 billion in back taxes to the EU.

- Google was fined €2.4 billion for violating antitrust laws by prioritizing its own services.

- Both rulings are final and cannot be appealed.

- The cases reflect the EU's efforts to address tax loopholes exploited by US tech companies.

- EU officials view the judgments as significant wins for tax justice and digital fairness.