Once thought to reach a conclusion on June 23, the appeal hearing opposing Apple's Athenry, Ireland efforts has been delayed because of a lack of judges able to hear the case.
The Irish High Court could make its decision on a review of Apple's plans for an Athenry data center as soon as this Friday, according to a report.
Once complete, Apple's data center in Viborg, Denmark will actually redirect heat to warm homes in the surrounding Jutland region, Apple noted this week.
As rumored, Apple on Tuesday debuted Apple Pay in Ireland with support for KBC Bank Ireland and Ulster Bank, introducing the mobile payments solution to its 14th worldwide market.
Apple has filed its appeal with the European court of appeals, all declaring that the European Commission's decision to levy $14 billion in taxes on Apple on behalf of the EU is erroneous, against the rule of law, and should be stricken.
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 declined a second invitation to a meeting with a finance committee in Ireland over the European Commission's $14 billion tax ruling, while Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan has accused the regulator of making a politically motivated decision.
The 13 billion euros ($14 billion) Apple is requested to pay Ireland as part a European Commission ruling over tax is likely to be an accurate figure, with the Irish finance minister advising the amount calculated by government officials is in a similar ballpark to the Commission's number.
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.
Apple has assigned a definitive date to the planned relocation of its international iTunes assets, saying the iTunes Store, Apple Music, the App Store and iBooks Store businesses will make the transition to Cork, Ireland, in early February.
The European Commission's order for Apple to pay Ireland 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in back taxes is an overreach of power, with PricewaterhouseCoopers' head of Irish tax matters Feargal O'Rourke claiming the move is tantamount to a "land grab."
Irish politicians are accusing Apple CEO Tim Cook of snubbing the country's legislature, and by association the entirety of Ireland, by declining an invitation to answer questions about the European Union's recent tax 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.
Although technically refusing to repatriate its international revenue to avoid taxes, Apple is actually keeping much of it in the U.S. in the form of bonds — and generating interest in the process, a report pointed out on Wednesday.
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 Irish High Court has reportedly agreed to put Apple on its commercial list, fast-tracking the resolution of legal objections over its planned datacenter near Athenry.
Apple is petitioning Ireland's High Court to fast-track a legal dispute over its planned datacenter in Athenry, hoping to avoid a wait up to 18 months for a normal judicial review.
Apple continues to expand its operations in Ireland, despite ongoing criticism of its presence there for tax purposes, with the company's international iTunes business now setting up shop in the town of Holyhill.
Apple managed to avoid paying $65.08 billion in U.S. taxes last year by keeping $218.55 billion offshore, according to a study produced by an activist group and a non-partisan think tank.
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Mike Wuerthele
Roger Fingas
Mikey Campbell
Malcolm Owen
AppleInsider Staff
