In 2016, the European Commission decided that Apple should repay € 13 billion in tax benefits received from the Irish tax authorities. Apple has had an important branch in Cork since 1980. Ireland has a favorable tax regime for multinationals anyway. But between 2003 and 2014, the technology giant paid very few taxes: barely 1 percent in 2003, 0.005 percent in 2014.
The European Commission regarded these tax breaks as a form of illegal state aid. Therefore, Commissioner Vestager wanted Apple to pay those missing taxes. But both Apple and Ireland appealed. Now, the General Court of the European Union, a part of the European Court in Luxembourg with jurisdiction for such disputes, has decided that Apple should not pay that amount because there is insufficient evidence to speak of a selective tax benefit.
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