Europe hits Apple with $14.5 billion tax bill

BRUSSELS -- The European Union says Ireland has given illegal tax benefits worth up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) to Apple Inc. and must now recover the unpaid back taxes from the U.S. technology company, plus interest.EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Tuesday: "Member states cannot give tax benefits to selected companies-this is illegal under EU state aid rules."She said a three-year investigation found Ireland granted such lavish tax breaks to Apple over many years that