Fiat lodges appeal to Europe’s top court against $33 million EU tax order

Fiat Chrysler has made an appeal to Europe’s top court against an EU order to pay 30 million euros ($33 million) in Luxembourg back-taxes, looking to overturn a lower tribunal ruling backing EU antitrust regulators.

Fiat lodged its appeal to the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), two months following the dismissal from the General Court regarding its challenge against the European Commission’s 2015 ruling, the company stated on Saturday.

“We confirm Fiat Chrysler Finance Europe SA (FCFE) filed an appeal with the European Court of Justice against the General Court’s judgment of 24 September 2019 relating to FCFE’s Luxembourg tax ruling,” the company stated to Reuters.

In their drive against tax avoidance by multinationals, the EU executive has ordered scores of firms to pay back-taxes varying from tens of millions to as much as 13 billion euros in the case of iPhone maker Apple.

Ireland, which supported Luxembourg in the case, also appealed, a person knowledgeable with the matter stated.

The CJEU generally takes 18 months to issue a judgment.