Virginia senators bring data center tax debate to Chesterfield

Virginia's Data Center "Tax Break" Isn't a Tax Break at All – It’s Sound Tax Policy - Americans for Tax Reform

As Virginia Democrats spar over whether to repeal the sales and use tax exemption for data centers, opponents routinely describe the policy as a “tax break,” “subsidy,” or “corporate giveaway.” But that framing misunderstands a basic principle of sound tax policy: sales taxes should apply to consumption, not production. The question facing Virginia lawmakers is not whether data centers deserve special treatment. The question is whether Virginia …

Sen. Lucas rallies support in Chesterfield for data center crackdown

The $1.7 billion fee Senate Finance Committee chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, proposed as a way around the objections to her proposal to do away with data centers’ sales tax exemption doesn’t mean the end of that tax break isn’t still possible, Lucas said.

Commonwealth Institute researcher: Affordability hinges on ensuring data centers pay their fair share of taxes

Virginia legislators and the governor are locked in final budget negotiations, and the biggest decision before them is whether to continue a costly tax break for data centers. Specifically, lawmakers are debating a state sales tax exemption for the equipment that fills hundreds of tech-industry facilities in our state.  Tax policy decisions are a chance to imagine the future we want to live in. As Virginia faces slowing revenue growth and famili…

Virginia senators bring data center tax debate to Chesterfield

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. Dozens of Virginia families gathered at Manchester Middle School Tuesday night to debate the future of the state's data center industry, as state senators push to eliminate a tax exemption that critics say costs taxpayers roughly $2 billion annually.State Sens. Louise Lucas and Mamie Locke are leading the effort to eliminate a sales and use tax exemption for data centers, arguing the cost to taxpayers has grown far beyon…