Apple wins tax battle with EU as court annuls order to pay $15 billion

The decision is a setback for European efforts to clamp down on what the authorities believe is anti-competitive behaviour

Apple won its court fight over a record $14.9 billion Irish tax bill in a crushing blow to European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager’s crackdown on preferential fiscal deals for companies.

The judgment by the EU’s lower court on Wednesday vindicates Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook’s challenge against a decision he labelled as “political crap”.

While the EU General Court’s ruling can still be appealed, judges delivered a stinging attack on the European Commission for failing to show “to the requisite legal standard” that Ireland’s tax deal broke state-aid law by giving Apple an unfair advantage. 

“The commission’s intent seemed to be