<P> On August 30 , 2016 , after a three - year investigation , the EU 's competition commissioner concluded that Apple had received `` illegal state aid '' from Ireland . The Commission ordered Apple to pay 13 billion euros ( $14.5 billion ) , plus interest , in unpaid taxes . The Irish government `` unanimously '' agreed to appeal the ruling , claiming there was no departure from the applicable Irish taxation law and that the Commission 's action was an intrusion into Irish sovereignty ( since national taxation policy is excluded from Union treaties ) . Apple have also announced that they will appeal the Commission 's findings . </P>
who led investigation into the legality of apple 's accounting practices during the 2000s
the EU 's competition commissioner