Program Information
Two data centers can look identical on paper—same power, same land, same connectivity—yet generate drastically different returns because of one factor: state and local tax policy.
Property tax on servers and infrastructure, sales tax on hardware purchases and refresh cycles, and differences in asset classification across jurisdictions can quietly become one of the largest operating costs for a data center over its lifecycle. Yet these exposures are often evaluated late in the site selection process, after key decisions have already been made.
This webinar will explain why tax exposure must now be evaluated as early as power, land, and connectivity when selecting data center locations.
Drawing from real-world modeling and project experience, our speakers will show how differences in tax policy and incentive structures can create massive lifecycle cost differences between otherwise comparable sites and how early tax analysis can transform negotiations with state and local governments.
What You’ll Learn
- The hidden tax cost drivers shaping modern data center economics
- How property tax treatment of servers and infrastructure varies widely across jurisdictions
- Why hardware refresh cycles create recurring tax exposure
- The difference between fully taxed and tax-optimized sites
- How early fiscal modeling strengthens site selection, incentive negotiations, and community engagement
For developers, operators, investors, and site selection professionals, tax exposure is no longer a back-end compliance issue; it’s a strategic cost variable that can determine long-term project performance.
Join us to learn how leading organizations are bringing tax strategy to the front of the site selection process, before critical decisions are locked in.
Who Should Attend?
- Data center developers and hyperscalers
- Infrastructure investors and finance executives
- Site selection and economic development professionals
- Corporate tax and strategy leaders supporting digital infrastructure
Learning Objectives
By attending this session, participants will learn how to:
Identify the Major Tax Cost Drivers Affecting Data Center Economics
Understand how property tax on servers and infrastructure, sales tax on hardware purchases, and jurisdictional tax policy differences influence the long-term operating cost of data center facilities.
Evaluate How Tax Treatment Varies Across Jurisdictions
Learn how differences in asset classification, depreciation treatment, and exemption structures can significantly change the financial profile of otherwise comparable sites.
Recognize Why Tax Analysis Must Occur Earlier in the Site Selection Process
Explore how incorporating tax strategy during early site evaluation can prevent costly surprises and improve long-term project economics.
Assess the Lifecycle Tax Exposure Created by Hardware Refresh Cycles
Understand how recurring equipment upgrades and technology refreshes can create ongoing tax obligations that materially affect total cost of ownership.
Use Tax Modeling to Strengthen Site Selection and Incentive Negotiations
See how early tax analysis can support better decision-making, improve incentive discussions with state and local governments, and help align projects with community expectations.
Integrate Tax Strategy into Broader Data Center Development Planning
Learn practical ways tax teams, site selectors, and development leaders can collaborate to evaluate locations more holistically and reduce long-term financial risk.