DUBLIN, Aug 21 (Reuters) - ⁠Apple paid Ireland $17.1 billion in ⁠taxes last year, representing around 40% of ‌its worldwide total, according to a company filing that detailed the iPhone maker's global tax liabilities ​country-by-country.

Apple said the amount ⁠paid to Ireland was "significantly ⁠higher" than income taxes accrued as it ⁠included €13 ‌billion ($15.18 billion) in back taxes that it was ordered to ⁠pay Ireland by European Union's top court ​in ‌2024.

Ireland fought the EU back-tax bill alongside ⁠Apple for ​eight years, seeking to defend its position as the location of choice for ⁠U.S. multinationals in Europe - and ​the billions of euros in direct and indirect taxes they bring in each year.

In ⁠2016, the European Commission's competition chief at the time, Margrethe Vestager, accused Ireland of having granted Apple illegal tax benefits, ​unfairly diverting investment away ⁠from other countries.

Apple paid $43.2 billion in income ​taxes worldwide in the ‌fiscal year that ended ​in September 2025.

($1 = 0.8562 euros)

(Reporting by Graham Fahy; Editing by Muvija M)