Apple Takes Bite Out Of European Union’s Attempt To Squash EU Sweetheart Tax Deal With Ireland
Apple Ireland Tax Case
Alleged Apple Ireland tax avoidance has rumbled on for four years. Initially Apple tax avoidance was alleged in sweetheart tax deal with Ireland so that Ireland could attract thousands of tech jobs to Ireland. The EU won the previous alleged Apple tax scandal but even the Irish government did not want Apple to pay any more tax. Apple was instructed to pay Ireland 13 billion euros in taxes. The European Commission said Apple benefited from illegal state aid via two Irish tax rulings that artificially reduced Apple tax burden for over two decades to as low as 0.005 percent in 2014.
The Irish government at that time backed the Apple tax case appeal and Apple have now won. Europe’s second highest court has now rejected an EU order for Apple to pay 13 billion euros. The EU can appeal the decision if it wants to to the EU Court of Justice which is the highest court in the European Union.