EU's top court rejects Apple's final appeal, and Apple must pay 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland

On September 10, 2024, according to news from London, the EU's top court on that day rejected Apple's final legal challenge against the European Commission's order for it to pay 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland, putting an end to this long-running dispute.

The European Court of Justice overturned a previous ruling by a lower court and confirmed the European Commission's 2016 decision that Ireland had given illegal aid to Apple and that Ireland must recover this aid. When this case was opened in 2016, it caused a strong reaction. Apple CEO Tim Cook called it "complete political rubbish." Then-US President Donald Trump also attacked European Commission member Margrethe Vestager, calling her "the tax lady" and being "very hostile to the United States."

In 2020, the EU General Court did not agree with the European Commission's view and had accused Apple of reaching an illegal tax agreement with Irish authorities that allowed it to pay an extremely low tax rate. In a statement, Apple expressed disappointment with this decision, saying that the General Court had previously reviewed the facts and clearly revoked this case, and emphasized that there has never been a special agreement.