Program Information
As data center development accelerates and jurisdictions reassess how these assets are valued and taxed, 2026 will be a pivotal year for managing risk, seizing opportunity, and shaping public perception.
This webinar will examine the most consequential tax developments affecting data center developers and tenants, with a deep dive into Virginia—particularly Loudoun County—where changes to depreciation tables, assessment methodologies, and local policy continue to reshape tax exposure for large-scale facilities.
DMA’s data center tax specialists will walk through what’s changing, what’s at stake, and what proactive strategies tax and government affairs teams should be implementing now to protect value, optimize incentives, ensure compliance—and facilitate a coordinated public messaging process that positions your organization as a responsible, community-minded partner.
What We’ll Cover
Property Tax Assessments & Depreciation Tables
- How recent and proposed changes to appreciation tables may impact data center valuations in 2026
- What these changes mean for Virginia and Loudoun County assessments specifically
- Key triggers for reassessment and best practices for review, appeals, and audit defense
- Strategies for aligning asset classification, depreciation, and documentation to reduce over-assessment
Credits & Incentives for Data Centers
- An overview of current and emerging state and local tax incentives available to data center projects
- How incentive programs interact with property tax abatements, sales and use tax exemptions, and job-based credits
- What economic development and government affairs teams should know when negotiating or maintaining incentive agreements
- Common compliance pitfalls that put incentive benefits at risk
- Best practices for communicating the community benefits of incentives—such as job creation, infrastructure investment, and sustainability initiatives—while maintaining transparency and credibility
Transaction Taxes Impacting Developers & Tenants
- Additional transaction tax considerations that data center developers and tenants must evaluate beyond standard sales tax forms and routine compliance
- Why early, proactive transaction tax planning is critical to managing risk and supporting data center projects in 2026
Who Should Attend?
- Tax managers and directors overseeing property, transaction, and incentive tax exposure
- Economic development professionals supporting site selection, incentive negotiations, and compliance
- Government affairs leaders navigating local policy shifts and jurisdictional risk
- Data center developers, owners, and tenants operating or expanding in Virginia and other competitive markets
Practitioners, service providers, and representatives from state, provincial, and local tax agencies may attend by invitation only.
Learning Objectives
By attending this session, participants will gain the insight needed to:
- Understand key 2026 tax developments impacting data center valuations, incentives, and transaction taxes
- Identify potential property tax exposure and considerations before assessments are issued
- Recognize opportunities to strengthen review and appeal strategies for data center property tax assessments
- Evaluate available state and local credits and incentives and their impact on overall project economics
- Better assess transaction tax considerations and compliance risks affecting data center developers and tenants
Additional Information
Cost: There is no cost to attend
Credits: 1.0 available*
Field of Study: Taxes
Course Level: Intermediate level program
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Prerequisites: Previous experience in corporate tax
Advanced Preparation: None
* You will need to participate in 50+ minutes for each hour of instruction, answer all poll questions, and complete the post-webinar survey.
Refunds and Cancellations: Programs are presented free of charge. For more information regarding administrative policies such as refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation, please contact events@dmainc.com.
DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.