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Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes

255 points · 249 comments · gmays

  1. simonw · · focus · HN ↗
    > Under a tax credit created in the 1980s to spur innovation, companies can get a rebate for supplies, but only if they are being tested in an experimental effort, not standard business operations. Meta is claiming that the costly A.I. computer chips it buys from companies, including Nvidia, are entitled to a taxpayer-provided discount as part of the experiment. [...]

    > The company started claiming the credit for the data centers two years ago. Since then, Meta’s savings from the credit have soared, trimming almost $4 billion off its tax bill last year, filings show.

    Yeah... as a US citizen and taxpayer I think I'd like that $4 billion back.

    1. burnerRhodov3 · · focus · HN ↗
      Spend millions on taking Amazon to court -> Spin months getting congressional support for law change -> two years later, Amazon pays a settlement and the government buys 200 MOABs, Amazon now does a double dutch/ irish/ Cayman islands tax evasion. The game continues.

      For these companies, it's totally worth doing illegal tax shit. Even if they are forced to pay, they pay it years down the line, so the current cost of capital starts to come into play.

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