Apple will be required to pay $ 14 billion in back taxes to Ireland after Europe ’s top court eject a new ruling on Tuesday , harmonize to a report from theFinancial Times . Apple CEO Tim Cook has antecedently called the grammatical case “ total political crap ” but the judgment is final and Apple will not be able to appeal .
The European Commission ’s executive vice United States President , Margrethe Vestager , first brought the grammatical case against Apple aver that Ireland had give the tech company a passel that “ constituted illegal nation assistance , ” by waiving so much in taxis . Apple is now on the sweetener to pay those taxis , which have been seat in an escrow account for the past six years , according to the Financial Times . curiously enough , the original € 14.3 billion set aside has fallen in note value after first being set away in 2018 because it was invested in European government chemical bond .
Vestager , who has been very belligerent against Silicon Valley companies engage in what she call anti - competitive behavior , has acknowledge that it ’s nothing Modern when rural area like Ireland give large firms sweetheart deals . But in this case , she insisted it was unfair to other state .
Apple CEO Tim Cook looks at new iPhone models following Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event in Cupertino, California, 6 March 2025.© Nic Coury / AFP / Getty Images
The ruling was a blow to Apple after the tech whale had previously won an prayer in a lower court in 2020 , repeal an original ruling against Apple in 2016 . The European Court of Justice affirmed the opinion from 2016 , writing that , “ Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover . ”
The European Union has been a contentious place for large American tech companies hoping to benefit from tax open frame and other perks that get with being an tremendous pot that can assure jobs and investiture . In the U.S. , many Silicon Valley companies get a austere talk to in the media and during government auditory modality , but ultimately see very little in the agency of regularisation . But in Europe , there is no house field vantage for companies like Apple , Google , and Meta . When European regulator say they will cut down on anti - competitive behavior , it ’s not just tattle .
What ’s bump powerful now in the world of regulating Big Tech in the U.S. ? Forty - two attorneys general have certify a program to tote up monish labels to social media about the possible hurt to the genial health of children , according to theWashington Post . We promise you that enceinte companies are much more concerned about pay $ 14 billion than they are about a stunned small recording label getting added to social media products .
Vestager has been the EU ’s top competition regulator for a decade now and is wide expected to pace down at some point soon , according to the Financial Times . But it remains to be seen whether anyone who fill her shoe will be any less aggressive .
“ Today cross out a dance step onward . And it ’s supporting , ” Vestager allege in a statementposted onlineafter the Apple opinion . “ It is encouraging for us to do more . The Commission will stay its employment on harmful tax competition and aggressive taxation planning . Both in terms of legislative proposals and enforcement . We will implement what we have decided . ”
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