Meta claimed $3.9 billion in federal research tax credits in 2025, up from $2 billion in 2024 and $700 million in 2023, according to securities filings. A New York Times investigation published September 30, 2026, reported that Meta classifies AI data centers as "pilot models" and treats Nvidia chips installed in them as supplies used in qualified research, allowing the company to claim credits on the equipment. The approach, which the Times said began in late 2024, is under scrutiny because the research credit generally covers work addressing technical uncertainties, while the IRS has previously challenged claims involving off-the-shelf equipment. Separately, an earlier Times investigation published in July 2026 linked Meta’s treatment of AI infrastructure to bonus depreciation and research-and-experimentation deductions, helping reduce its federal tax expense by nearly $7 billion year over year. Meta’s Hyperion campus in Richland Parish, Louisiana, is projected to cost more than $50 billion and support up to 5 gigawatts of computing capacity, with $3.3 billion in state and local tax breaks. Meta’s gross unrecognized tax benefits reached $18.74 billion as of June 30, up 45% from $12.91 billion two years earlier, and the company expects to add to the figure. The IRS is separately contesting Meta’s earlier research-credit claim tied to executive compensation and seeking nearly $16 billion in a foreign-subsidiary pricing case.