Call their bluff: It’s time for data centers to pay sales taxes like the rest of us

By: Ivy Main

Outlets: Virginia Mercury

Published: February 25, 2026

Words: 841

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 1 day ago

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Virginia Senate leaders did something remarkably courageous this week in writing a budget that ends the sales tax exemption for data centers. As Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, pointed out, the exemption was projected to cost the state about $1.54 million when it was passed in 2008. In 2025, it cost Virginia $1.6 billion.

And that amount will escalate as the industry continues its explosive growth across Virginia. Dominion Energy told the …

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