Apple loses EU court battle over €13 billion Irish tax case

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has faced a significant legal setback as it lost its EU court battle over €13 billion ($14.4 billion), a long-standing dispute concerning its tax arrangements in Ireland.
This marks a notable victory for the European Union (EU) in its ongoing campaign against preferential tax deals granted to major corporations by individual nations.
The European Court of Justice overruled a lower court’s earlier decision in the case, saying it “confirms the European Commission’s 2016 decision: Ireland granted Apple (AAPL) unlawful aid, which Ireland is required to recover.”
The case has spanned several years and centered around allegations that Ireland granted Apple (AAPL) unfair tax advantages, allowing the tech giant to pay substantially less tax than other businesses.
In 2016, the Commission ordered Apple (AAPL) to repay the €13 billion, citing that the tax benefits were illegal under EU regulations.
Apple (AAPL) and Ireland both contested the ruling, leading to a series of appeals and legal proceedings.
Despite these efforts, the EU court’s recent dismissal solidifies the Commission’s stance and obligates Apple (AAPL) to comply with the repayment order.
“We are disappointed with today’s decision, as previously the General Court reviewed the facts and categorically annulled this case,” Apple said in a statement.
Separately, top EU Court rejects Google’s appeal against €2.42B fine in Shopping case.

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