The iPhone maker Apple accused the European Commission of misunderstanding its business strategies, as it appeal against a $14 billion tax order on a day two, in a dispute that is key to the EU’s drive to collect more taxes but which could also run for years.
The recent case focuses on tax rulings, that was granted by the Ireland to two Apple businesses in country, the Apple Sales International and the Apple Operations Europe, also reduced Apple’s tax burden, that is for more than two decades to as low as 0.005% in 2014, according to the Commission, although that is disputed by Apple.
European Commission ordered Apple to pay 13 billion euros of taxes in 2016, but Apple Inc and Ireland, whose economy also benefits from the hosting a number of multinational firms, are also appealing against the decision at Europe’s General Court, and its second highest.
“Yes, Apple CEO Tim Cook said there were decisions taken in Ireland, but not strategic decisions,” he said, referring to Cook’s testimony at a U.S. Senate hearing in 2013 which formed a key element of the Commission’s case.
