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."
After a 2013 investigation into its Irish tax affairs, Apple continued to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes by changing its structure, moving the holding firm for over $250 billion in cash reserves to the Channel Islands, this week's "Paradise Papers" leak has revealed.
The Irish High Court has tossed an appeal of a ruling in favor of Apple's Athenry data center, in theory removing the final legal obstacle towards the project's construction.
Two of the Athenry residents who have long opposed Apple's Irish data center are hoping to appeal a Commercial Court decision which otherwise greenlit the $1 billion project, potentially signalling yet more delays.
Apple has introduced public transit directions for Maps users in Ireland, confirming recent signs that it was about to do so.
The Irish courts have spoken, and Apple is now permitted to go forward after a long battle over environmental and power concerns for its Athenry, Ireland data center.
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.
France is working with Germany on European Union reforms aimed at plugging loopholes U.S. technology companies like Apple use to minimize taxes, tactics that give foreign entities a leg up on local competition.
Apple's Australian Maps transit coverage has expanded to large sections of the states of Queensland and Western Australia, and may be poised to come to Ireland in the near future.
The Irish courts continue to defer the Athenry, Ireland data center decision, and are next scheduled to hear the case in October.
TransferWise on Thursday announced U.S. support for sending money via Apple Pay, plus similar compatibility in Australia, Switzerland, France, Spain, Ireland, and Italy.
Nearly a year after the initial declaration, Ireland is making ready to receive a $15.2 billion tax payment from Apple, and hold it in secure escrow until appeals end.
Apple on Tuesday added 27 U.S. banks and credit unions to the Apple Pay roster, while simultaneously bringing the platform to more options in China, Italy, Ireland, and Russia.
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Roger Fingas
Daniel Eran Dilger
Malcolm Owen
Mike Wuerthele
Mikey Campbell
