Meta dodges billions in US taxes by calling its AI data centers experiments
Meta saved $3.9 billion in 2025 by treating AI data centers as experimental pilot models.
The New York Times reports Meta saved $3.9 billion in 2025, up from $2 billion the prior year and $700 million in 2023, by claiming the federal research tax credit for AI data centers labeled "pilot models" and Nvidia chips treated as experimental materials. That contrasts with Mark Zuckerberg's publicly described multi-gigawatt Prometheus and Hyperion clusters and hundreds of billions in planned compute. SEC filings warn the position may be challenged, and reserves for uncertain tax positions rose 45% to $18.74 billion. Auditor EY approved the strategy and is reportedly offering it to other companies buying AI chips.
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