The European Court of Justice upheld a 2016 decision that said Apple received unlawful aid from Ireland.

Apple has been ordered to pay Ireland €13bn (£11bn; $14bn) in unpaid taxes by Europe’s top court, putting an end to an eight-year row.

The European Commission accused Ireland of giving Apple illegal tax advantages in 2016, but Ireland has consistently argued against the need for the tax to be paid.

The Irish government said it would respect the ruling.

Apple said it was disappointed with the decision and accused the European Commission of “trying to retroactively change the rules”.

A separate European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on Tuesday also brought a long-running case with Google to a close, with the company ordered to pay a €2.4bn (£2bn) fine for market dominance abuse.

  • JoshuaFalken@lemmy.worldEnglish
    271·
    2 months ago

    Strikes me as fishy that the finance ministry went to court with Apple to say ‘no don’t pay tax’.

    If they don’t want the tax, have the cheque made out to the EU.

    • sazey@lemmy.worldEnglish
      40·
      2 months ago

      Ireland’s whole shtick is low corporate taxes which has lead to boom times in recent years. Makes sense they would want to uphold that reputation, but well played to them as this decision makes it a win-win. I guess they must take these taxes now, awww shucks.

  • Squizzy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    131·
    2 months ago

    Could give 2,500 to every citizen. Better yet give it all to people in the middle class who ae working but camt get a home.

      • Squizzy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        2 months ago

        Thats the middle class. I see plenty of handouts for lads who dont work, dont see much help for middle.

        • sandbox@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          2 months ago

          definitionally, the middle class literally cannot be in the bottom 10%. I’d really suggest you learn about those “handouts” you mention and look into how much they are, what the conditions for receiving it are, how hard they are to get, etc. and consider whether you’d be able to live on them.

          • Squizzy@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            2 months ago

            Well I spent all of my money on a house and my neighbour got handed it for free. I cant afford to go on holiday every year while they are out every weekend and off on a trip at least once a year. Popped out a few kids and declared the partner left despite living there so they get a fat support cheque and extra for being abandoned.

            I have looked into these things and I am happy to not be included in that demographic because Inwould rather have a purpose and pride in what I do and how I get to where I am going but to say that those supports are difficult to get and very little to live on shows you are the uninformed one. Without expenses my neighbour has 600 euro a week, she saved thousands during the pandemic. Bought a nice new car for herself, while I am here esrning above average with a lesser lifestyle.

            I am not saying to not eat the rich, aim upwards but I am sick of supporting lazy cunts.

            • sandbox@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              2 months ago

              If you’re struggling to make ends meet, you’re not middle class. You’re the exact same class as your neighbour. If you want to improve your conditions then you need to learn some solidarity instead of blaming them for your problems. They’re not the ones taking advantage. It’s the fucking rich and powerful that are lazy, do zero valuable work, and leech off the rest of society. Working class people scamming the tax system is a good thing, really - all those taxes would otherwise go to other rich twats anyways, so I’d much rather it went to your neighbour.

              • Squizzy@lemmy.worldEnglish
                1·
                2 months ago

                Im in full time employment and own my own house, both of us are above average earners. We are not the same class as dole families.

                • sandbox@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  21·
                  2 months ago

                  if you fully own your own home and your household has two people fully employed how in the hell does someone with €1600 a month have a living standard remotely close to yours? none of what you’re saying is adding up at all

      • Squizzy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        2 months ago

        For the record I dont think it would do much butnalso fuck off with your polarised view of politics in Ireland. The US can have ya.

    • sazey@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      2 months ago

      Pray tell o’ wise one what happens to the Ulster militia dug in for years when Ireland claims NI? Nah I’m sure they’ll just pack up and leave and the remainder will join hands with their Catholic brothers and sisters in kumbaya.

        • sazey@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          2 months ago

          Mate have you checked up on the UK these days? It is circling the drain itself and barely gives a shit about the country outside of Westminster. What makes you think they won’t make a complete shitshow of it even if they could be arsed to get involved?

        • palordrolap@fedia.io
          2·
          2 months ago

          If dealing with a small bunch of nutters was so easy, the Troubles wouldn’t have been quite so troubling, now, would they?

          This would just be the same thing but with a different bunch of nutters.