French Court Hits Apple With $6.5 Million Royalty Tax Bill

Yet another tax problem for Apple, this one in Europe. A French court has found that the company failed to pay millions of dollars in taxes on iPads sold in 2011.

The Paris High Court ruled last week that Apple must pay $6.5 million in taxes to Copie France. That agency — which collects copyright tariffs for the music, film, visual arts and publishing industries — had argued that Apple collected $9.3 million in royalty taxes on iPads it sold in France in 2011, but instead of passing the money along to Copie France, which would have distributed it to creatives, it held on to it.

Why? That’s not entirely clear. But Apple has been contesting the legality of Copie France tariffs in court and, given that, will almost certainly appeal the Paris High Court’s ruling.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.