Biggest EU tax crackdowns

Apple has been ordered to repay a record €13 billion plus interest after Ireland illegally slashed the tech-giant’s tax bill. It is the largest penalty in a three-year EU crackdown on sweetheart tax deals

€13 billion Apple’s tax bill covers 10 years of back taxes – equivalent to Ireland’s national healthcare budget (€13.2 billion)

12.5% Ireland’s corporate tax rate is lowest in Western Europe

1% 2003: Ireland reduces corporate tax rate for Apple to 1% on its European profits

0.005% 2014: Apple paid corporate tax of 0.005% – equivalent to just €50 on every €1 million of profits

€1.4 billion

2014: In biggest penalty to date, French energy group EDF is ordered by Commission to repay €1.4 billion

2014: Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager directs Netherlands to recover €30m in back taxes from Starbucks. Luxembourg is told to recover €30m from Fiat Chrysler

Jan 2016: Commission orders Belgium to recover €700m from 35 companies, including ABInBev, Atlas Copco, BP and Proximus

€700 million

2016: EU has ongoing investigations into Luxembourg’s tax agreements with Amazon and McDonald’s

Source: European Commission