According to reports, its Apple’s iTune unit in Japan has been ordered to fork up the money because the unit shipped some of its profits paid by subscribers to an Irish Apple unit, avoiding paying local tax on sales.

The news follows on the EU finding that it owed a much heftier $14.6 billion in unpaid taxes as a result of a deal with Irish tax authorities.

Apple and the Irish government are not very happy with the EU decision and plan to appeal against the ruling.

The move in Japan was reported by local broadcaster NHK, but the local tax authorities have refused so far to confirm or deny the report.