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CA$H COWS: Tavistock, Disney and others save millions through tax break meant to help Florida farmer
At the Drive Shack golfing center in Lake Nona, golf balls struck from the three-story driving range roll to a stop not far from a few...
Feb 21, 20213 min read


A national 'tennis heaven' avoids $1 million a year in taxes by claiming a break meant for charities
The USTA National Campus at Lake Nona, a nearly $70 million “tennis heaven” with features like clay courts covered in crushed red brick...
Jan 19, 20212 min read


A little-known tax district is steering millions to Orlando's tourism industry
Late last year, just before Orange County leaders approved a controversial plan to give up $125 million to Universal Orlando for a new...
Dec 10, 20202 min read


Corporate giants like Target, Chevron and UPS exploit Florida's "separate reporting" tax system
One of the world’s biggest retailers, Target Corp. turned a more than $3 billion profit last year — and the company made a lot of its...
Dec 1, 20202 min read


Florida is about to give more than $500 million to big corporations
Originally published Aug. 15, 2019 Florida is about to give more than $500 million to some of its biggest corporations. That’s enough to...
Oct 4, 20201 min read


Universal Orlando claims millions in tax breaks via program meant to help struggling neighborhoods
Originally published Feb. 2, 2013 For Universal Orlando, the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the summer of 2010 was...
Oct 4, 20202 min read


Universal Orlando still claiming tax breaks meant to help struggling communities
Originally published Sept. 18, 2020 In April, after it had been forced to shut down by the coronavirus pandemic but before it began...
Oct 4, 20203 min read


Universal Orlando seeking $350 million in corporate tax breaks
Originally published Dec. 11, 2019 Universal Orlando is in line for nearly $350 million worth of state tax breaks to build a new...
Oct 4, 20202 min read


Amid Florida’s budget shortfall, corporations lobby for more tax cuts
Originally published Aug. 27, 2020 This spring, PetMed Express Inc., a nationwide pet pharmacy that sells nearly $300 million a year...
Oct 4, 20202 min read


Investment company writes Florida incentive laws, then profits from them
Originally published Jan. 8, 2020 On a Thursday afternoon in the middle of last year’s legislative session, Sen. Bill Montford appeared...
Oct 4, 20201 min read


Video-game company helps write Florida tax-incentive law, saves itself millions
Originally published Dec. 30, 2012 During the past three years, even as it has struggled with shrinking tax revenue, the Florida...
Oct 4, 20202 min read


Loophole lets theme parks cut tax bills
Originally published May 25, 2011 Disney is avoiding some state and local taxes by selling theme-park tickets and other items to itself....
Oct 4, 20202 min read


Thriving companies getting hundreds of millions in federal coronavirus tax breaks
Originally published May 21, 2020 Corporations across America have booked more than $7 billion in savings using tax breaks that Congress...
Oct 4, 20202 min read


In Florida, 99% of companies pay no corporate income tax — with lawmakers’ blessing
Big Profits, Tiny Taxes || Part 1 Originally published Nov. 13, 2019 EBay Inc., the online auction company with 180 million buyers around...
Oct 3, 20202 min read


Big businesses cut their Florida taxes by using income-shifting strategies
Big Profits, Tiny Taxes || Part 2 Originally published Nov. 14, 2019 For years, the company that makes Dr. Pepper soda and Snapple iced...
Oct 3, 20201 min read


Companies pass profits out of Florida, costing the state millions
Big Profits, Tiny Taxes || Part 3 Originally published Nov. 20, 2019 Launched in 2000 as a partnership between American and British...
Oct 3, 20201 min read


Big companies have lots of Florida customers — but sidestep state income taxes
Big Profits, Tiny Taxes || Part 4 Originally published Nov. 26, 2019 Every time someone wins an auction on eBay.com, the company takes a...
Oct 3, 20201 min read


Florida loses $50M a year to vague business deductions
Big Profits, Tiny Taxes || Part 5 Originally published Dec. 4, 2019 Six years ago, the world’s largest beer company sold off its stake in...
Oct 3, 20201 min read


Corporate loopholes mean Florida taxpayers subsidize jobs in other states
Big Profits, Tiny Taxes || Part 6 Originally published Dec. 11, 2019 In 1981, the Florida Legislature gave the banking industry a tax...
Oct 3, 20202 min read
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