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Apple has lost its legal battle against a €13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax bill after Europe’s top court ruled in favor of the European Commission on Tuesday. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) upheld a 2016 decision that Ireland had granted Apple unlawful state aid, which it now must repay. The ruling marks a significant blow to Apple, just a day after it launched new product upgrades.
The ECJ’s ruling is final, meaning Apple cannot appeal further. The court’s decision emphasizes the European Union’s firm stance on regulating Big Tech, reinforcing the EU’s ongoing efforts to curb the power of major technology companies. Apple, which had set aside the €13 billion in an escrow account during the legal proceedings, expressed disappointment with the ruling, insisting that it has always paid all taxes owed.
In a separate case, the ECJ also upheld a €2.4 billion ($2.6 billion) antitrust fine against Google. The fine was originally imposed by the European Commission in 2017 for abusing its dominant position in online search by favoring its own shopping service over competitors. Google’s appeal was dismissed, solidifying the EU’s resolve to hold even the largest tech companies accountable.
[With info from CNN]
