According to foreign media reports, the Irish government said on Thursday that it would abide by the EU ruling and accept 13 billion euros ($15.2 billion) in taxes paid by Apple Inc, but at the same time stressed that it was helpless to do so. Apple Inc did not violate EU or Irish laws.

Earlier, EU regulators investigated Apple Inc's tax situation in Ireland and found that the Irish government had reached an illegal private deal with Apple Inc. The European Commission ruled in August last year that Ireland needed to impose an additional tax of 13 billion euros on Apple Inc. This is the biggest ticket Apple Inc has ever received in Europe.

Unexpectedly, both Apple Inc and the Irish government expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling and filed an appeal. During the period of appeal, Apple Inc has handed over the back tax to a third party for safekeeping.

The Irish Ministry of Finance issued a tough statement on its website in December, refuting the EU's decision as a violation of sovereignty. Ireland does not accept EU tax analysis; it also says that Apple Inc complies with Irish tax law and that the government does not deal with taxpayers.

It is understood that Apple Inc's main means of tax avoidance is through Irish subsidiaries, and according to Irish law, an Irish company may not pay tax in Ireland if its management and control are not in the country. Making use of the unique tax law of Ireland, Apple Inc first set up Apple Inc International sales Company in Ireland, which is responsible for receiving all sales income except the United States and enjoying a lower income tax rate. Then, through Apple Inc International Operation, the parent company of Apple Inc International sales Company, the profits are transferred to the British Virgin Islands, where the latter is headquartered. Since the management of Apple Inc International is not in Ireland, it does not have to pay tax in Ireland, while the British Virgin Islands is almost tax-free.

Although Ireland decided to levy this tax on Apple Inc, it was reluctant. Paschal Donohoe, Ireland's finance minister, said: "the tax rules that benefit Apple Inc apply to all companies and are not specifically tailored for Apple Inc. As a result, they did not violate EU or Irish law. We are not other people's global tax collectors. "

The Irish government has said it will collect the tax during Apple Inc's appeal. Regardless of the outcome of the appeal, Apple Inc seems likely to have to end the current practice and no longer transfer all sales profits from Europe to Ireland. The European Union and individual European countries are cracking down on this practice, insisting that corporate profits must be declared in the country where the product is sold.