“Ireland must demand €13 billion in back taxes” – European Commission

Ireland has been ordered to recoup up to €13 billion from US technology giant Apple in unpaid taxes in a landmark ruling by the European Commission this morning.

While the precise figure will be worked out by the Irish Revenue Commissioners, the Commission estimates that the total monies recovered will amount to around € 13 billion – far in excess of what had been imagined by Irish authorities.

The EU Commission launched its investigation, arguing that its preliminary assessment was that Ireland had illegally granted selective treatment to Apple, in breach of EU state aid law.

The EU investigation has found that Apple had been in discussions with an unfair advantage as a result of tax rulings it received from the Revenue in 1991 and 2007.

The Irish government and Apple have always rejected allegations of any wrongdoing and both intend to appeal the decision.