An advocate general at the European Court of Justice has recommended that a previous ruling permitting Apple to evade €13 billion (£11 billion) in back taxes be reconsidered, marking the latest development in the ongoing dispute involving the EU, the US tech giant, and the Irish government.
Three years ago, a decision that found Apple had received illegal tax benefits from the Irish government was overturned. However, Advocate General Giovanni Pitruzzella at the Court of Justice has suggested that the case should be reevaluated.
He contends that a series of legal errors were made, and the ruling in favor of Apple failed to accurately assess “the substance and consequences of certain methodological errors that, according to the Commission decision, vitiated the tax rulings.”
It’s important to note that this legal opinion is not a final verdict and is non-binding. Nevertheless, the court generally aligns with such opinions in the majority of cases.
In response to this recent development, a spokesperson for Apple reiterated the company’s stance that the initial ruling confirmed that Apple did not receive any selective advantage or state aid.