- Texas is losing more and more each year due to no data center tax
- The state could lose $1.3 billion in 2026 alone, when it was only a few million.
- Supporters say benefits include major investments and other tax revenue
The state of Texas could lose $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue over the next two years due to a long-standing tax exemption in place for data centers — one of the state’s costliest incentive programs.
This is a general estimate, however, and the increasing construction of data centers could actually result in an even greater tax loss.
Furthermore, this figure has increased significantly in recent years, leading to approximately $1.3 billion in exemptions in 2026, compared to approximately $150 million per year in 2023 and 2024 and $5 million to $30 million per year between 2014 and 2022.
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Texas data center tax exemptions are becoming more expensive than ever
Speaking about the loss of income with the Texas TribuneState Senator Joan Huffman explained: “These new numbers are extremely concerning and I will say they are unsustainable.”
Lawmakers are now questioning whether the tax exemptions remain sustainable and are considering scaling back or eliminating them altogether. “I plan to consider introducing legislation to repeal the exemption or look at it very closely and see,” Huffman added.
Billions in lost revenue now prevent public funding of services such as schools and disaster recovery.
However, Texas’ position as one of the most tax-generous states has led to major projects in the state, including OpenAI’s campus in Abilene as part of Project Stargate. Four of Stargate’s data centers are expected to create 25,000 on-site jobs – two of these centers are located in Texas.
Supporters of the project argue that tax incentives attract major investments such as those mentioned above and generate other tax revenues.
Other states offering data center tax incentives, including Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona and Georgia, are also reportedly exploring future options amid sustainability concerns.
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