The European Union's General Court has refused a U.S. government request to intervene in Apple's appeal of a 2016 European Commission ruling, which ordered Ireland to collect approximately $15.3 billion in back taxes from the company.
Apple should finally begin paying $15.4 billion in back taxes into an escrow account in the first quarter of next year, Ireland's finance minister announced on Monday.
An activist organization staged a series of protests at French Apple stores on Saturday, calling on the company to pay the $15.5 billion in back taxes the Irish government has been ordered to collect by the European Commission.
The European Union's competition commissioner has asked Apple to update details on its tax situation, following allegations that the company relocated some operations from Ireland to Jersey to avoid higher rates.
In a rare blog posting, Apple listed a series of inaccuracies in the "Paradise Papers" tax story reported by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, while outlining its business in Cork, Ireland; emphasizing that the company is the "largest taxpayer in the world" and repeating that it "pays every dollar it owes in every country around the world."
Confirming an earlier report, the European Commission on Wednesday said it will bring Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to collect at least $15 billion in back taxes from Apple, which were originally due Jan. 3.
The European Commission is set to penalize Ireland with a "non-compliance action" for failing to collect up to $17.6 billion in back taxes from Apple, owed after the Commission found the Irish government brokered unfair deals that constituted illegal state aid.
In a German interview this week, Ireland's finance minister attacked the European Commission's ruling calling for the collection of $15 billion in back taxes (plus interest) from Apple, saying it was both unjustified and outside Ireland's responsibility.
Apple and the Irish government are reportedly nearing a deal that would shield the latter from losses incurred while holding up to $17.7 billion in Apple cash, including interest — money that may be due in back taxes following a 2016 European Commission ruling.
The European Union has fined Facebook 110 million euros — about $122 million — for providing "misleading information" during a 2014 review of its WhatsApp acquisition, which raised concerns about data sharing between the two services.
The European Commission is preparing new regulations that could reduce some of Apple's absolute control over the App Store, in light of the company's position as a "gatekeeper" for customers.
The Irish government spent more than 440,000 euros ($467,000) on a report to defend the tax arrangements between the country and Apple, amid ongoing scrutiny from the European Union.
Apple has missed the deadline to pay the 13 billion euros ($14 billion) the iPhone producer was ordered to pay Ireland in back taxes, but the European Commission is noting that progress is still being made by Apple to comply with its ruling.
Fulfilling a promise, Apple on Monday formally appealed a tax ruling by the European Commission ordering Ireland to collect at least $13.6 billion in back taxes.
An Irish legislative committee is reportedly optimistic that Apple CEO Tim Cook will accept an invitation to attend a late January hearing, which will examine the European Commission's ruling that Ireland must collect $14.5 billion in back taxes from the iPhone maker.
The Irish government is about to formally submit its appeal of the European Commission's tax ruling on Apple, Finance Minister Michael Noonan announced on Tuesday.
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday issued new legal guidance that might prevent Apple from recouping any back taxes owed in Ireland by claiming them against taxes it would normally pay in America.
In the wake of the European Commission's ruling against tax deals between Apple and Ireland, the finance ministers of several other European countries are reportedly considering a share of the iPhone maker's back taxes.
Apple has posted a series of answers to questions about the European Commission's tax ruling, and appears to be unconcerned about any potential financial fallout.
On Tuesday, the European Commission handed down its biggest tax penalty yet, ordering Apple to pay 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in back taxes — but both Ireland and Apple are appealing the ruling.
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Roger Fingas
Daniel Eran Dilger
Malcolm Owen
Mike Wuerthele
