Apple paid $17 billion in taxes to Ireland in 2025, representing roughly 40% of its global corporate tax bill of $43 billion for the year. The payment stems from a decade-long legal battle with the European Union over Apple's Irish tax arrangements, which the EU deemed illegal state aid. The company was accused of exploiting a loophole to minimize its tax liability, despite employing over 5,000 people in the country.

The EU's back-tax ruling found that Ireland had granted Apple a tax rate of less than 1% through the "Double Irish" strategy, allowing the tech giant to route profits through subsidiaries with no tax residency. In 2016, the European Commission ordered Ireland to recover approximately $14.2 billion plus interest. Ireland collected the full amount into escrow in 2018 while appeals proceeded.

After multiple court decisions, including a 2024 ruling by the European Court of Justice that upheld the Commission's decision, Ireland confirmed it received nearly $15.5 billion from the final closure of the account in 2025. Apple has consistently maintained that it paid all taxes owed and complied with Irish and international law.