Ireland collects $22.7 billion in taxes from Apple and Microsoft alone

Multinational technology giants Apple and Microsoft collectively paid Ireland a staggering $22.7 billion in taxes last year. This immense sum provides a stark illustration of the financial power wielded by global corporations and their impact on national economies.

To put this figure into perspective, Croatia, a nation with a comparable land area and population, expects to collect roughly the same amount from all its taxes throughout the entire year. Furthermore, the tax paid by these two companies to Ireland could fund the construction of almost 37 Pelješac bridges, including their access roads. The Pelješac bridge is a significant infrastructure project aimed at connecting Croatia's mainland with the Pelješac peninsula.

These figures, previously known only to tax authorities, have now become public following disclosures from Apple, Microsoft, and Procter & Gamble. Apple recently released its first public country-by-country tax report, with Microsoft and P&G having done so earlier. The data reveals that Microsoft had 61 employees in Croatia, generated $5.6 million in profit, and paid just under $780,000 in taxes. Apple, however, does not list Croatia separately in its report.

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Microsoft is, according to the report, had 61 employees in Croatia, generated $5.6 million in profit, and paid just under $780,000 in taxes.