The European Union’s highest court has made a final ruling in the long-standing legal battle between Apple and the European Commission. The European Court of Justice has rejected Apple’s last attempt to challenge an order requiring the tech giant to repay 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland.
The court's decision overruled a previous ruling and upheld the European Commission's 2016 decision that Ireland had provided Apple with unlawful aid that needed to be recovered. This brings an end to a dispute that has been ongoing since 2016.
When the case was first opened, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, expressed strong opposition, referring to it as 'total political crap.' The ruling by the European Court of Justice now confirms that Ireland must collect the back taxes from Apple, a decision that has significant financial implications for both parties involved.
This legal battle has been closely watched by industry observers and policymakers, as it raises important questions about tax practices and the relationship between multinational corporations and the countries where they operate. The outcome of this case sets a precedent for how tax disputes involving major tech companies are handled within the European Union.
Apple and Ireland have yet to comment on the latest ruling by the European Court of Justice. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact their future business operations and tax arrangements in the region.
