BRUSSELS, July 4 -- On June 30, without a press conference or executive statement, Microsoft became the first United States technology company compelled to publish a line-by-line account of where it generates profit across Europe. What that account showed was Ireland holding 38 percent of its global pre-tax profits, roughly $47 billion, while employing 2.92 percent of its global workforce.

The filing was not voluntary. EU Directive 2021/2101, which requires large multinationals operating in the bloc to publish a public country-by-country tax report, came into force for reporting periods ending on or after June 22, 2024. Microsoft's annual reporting period made June 30, 2026 the first mandatory filing date. Satya Nadella's company publish...