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TaxBuzz Top 5 - Zuckerberg Lobbied Trump on Digital Taxes Last Week, DeSantis Deploys "Florida DOGE" & More

TaxBuzz Top 5 - Zuckerberg Lobbied Trump on Digital Taxes Last Week, DeSantis Deploys "Florida DOGE" & More

Each Friday, TaxBuzz brings you the top five tax and accounting headlines you need to know from the workweek. We know life can get busy and you don't always have time to scroll through your news feed to stay informed.

We weed through all of the week's stories to showcase the most important updates in the tax and accounting world.

1. Zuckerberg Lobbied Trump on Digital Taxes—Then Tariff Threats Followed

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Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg quietly met with President Trump last week to lobby against digital service taxes imposed by foreign countries, Bloomberg reports . These levies, often targeting U.S. tech giants like Meta, Google, Apple, and Amazon, tax online advertising or user-generated revenues within a specific country.

Just days after the meeting, Trump threatened “substantial additional tariffs” on imports from nations enforcing such digital taxes, accusing them of discriminating against American technology firms and favoring Chinese competitors. This exchange illustrates how tech lobbying is shaping trade diplomacy, with Meta using its access to the White House in a bid to influence U.S. policy. In turn, Trump is using tariffs and export restrictions as leverage to press foreign governments for regulatory rollbacks.

Why It Matters

  • For Meta, reduced digital taxes could boost foreign earnings and avert increasing costs overseas.
  • For taxpayers, retaliatory tariffs may affect prices on goods imported from targeted countries.
  • For global trade, the clash further strains relationships with allies like those in Europe, even as the U.S. pursues broader tech and trade priorities.

In Washington, the encounter is a prime example of how Big Tech continues to wield influence over both economic and geopolitical policy, bridging digital strategy and international pressure.

2. Tariff-Free E-Commerce Era Ends: U.S. Slaps Duties on All Small Packages

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Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Starting August 29, 2025, the U.S. administration officially ended the “de minimis” tariff exemption, which previously allowed packages valued at $800 or less to enter the country duty-free. The change now subjects all such packages—regardless of value—to full import duties, marking a significant shift in trade policy.

To ease the transition, shippers will have a six-month window to use a flat-rate tariff—$80 to $200 per package, depending on the origin. After that period, duties will be calculated as a percentage of the item’s declared value.

The administration touts the move as a major win for U.S. revenue and public safety: White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro claims the "permanent" change could add up to $10 billion annually to the Treasury while cracking down on narcotics smuggling via low-value parcels. However, global shipping networks are already feeling the strain. Major postal services—from Europe, Asia, and Australia—have begun suspending U.S. shipments, citing unclear tariff procedures and opaque customs requirements.

For American consumers and online retailers, this shift signals higher costs and slower delivery times. Platforms like Etsy, Temu, and Shein, which thrived on low-cost shipping, may be forced to adjust pricing models—or rely more on U.S. warehouses—to avoid passing the cost burden to shoppers.

3. DeSantis Deploys “Florida DOGE” to Advance Ambitious Property Tax Overhaul

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Credit: felixmizioznikov/Getty Images

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is ratcheting up efforts to overhaul—or even abolish—the state’s property tax system, enlisting the newly created Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to spearhead the push.

The state legislature recently rejected DeSantis's proposal to grant homeowners $1,000 rebates as part of a sweeping $5 billion in tax relief. Undeterred, DeSantis and CFO Blaise Ingoglia, head of Florida DOGE, have launched aggressive audits of local governments—including Hillsborough County and cities like Orlando—to target “waste, fraud, and abuse” and argue that spending could be trimmed to accommodate broader property tax cuts. The governor frames this as a path toward a 2026 constitutional referendum aimed at reducing or eliminating property taxes altogether. 

Critics—including economists and even some Republicans—warn that repealing property taxes without a replacement revenue source could destabilize funding for public schools, emergency services, and infrastructure. As Florida balances its image as a low-tax haven, already lacking an income tax, this move is indicative of the political stakes ahead of 2026 and spotlights Florida DOGE’s role in reshaping how property taxes are managed statewide.

4. Trump’s EV Tax Credit Cuts Create Battery Surplus, Jeopardizing U.S. Manufacturing

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Credit: Phonlamai Photo/Getty Images

President Trump's rollback of federal EV incentives is unexpectedly spawning a battery surplus in the U.S., a trend industry leaders warn could devastate domestic manufacturing. According to Fortune, the sudden absence of tax credits has tipped supply past demand, endangering battery factories and turning incentives into what one source calls “a poison pill for U.S. manufacturing.”

This shift could undercut decades of progress. Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), EV tax credits—particularly the $7,500 new-vehicle incentive—and manufacturing tax benefits such as the Section 45X production credit, helped fuel billions in investments and thousands of battery plants nationwide, according to the National Law Review.

Now, with credits slated to expire on September 30, 2025, plus tighter content rules excluding foreign-linked battery components, the industry is bracing for fallout. Manufacturers foresee project cancellations, job losses, and halted factory construction. A recent Axios report shows clean energy projects have already seen a surge in cancellations—totaling $5 billion in Q2—with EV and battery investments leading the decline.

For American consumers and automakers, the end of tax credits and rising industry uncertainty could slow EV adoption, disrupt the battery supply chain, and shift global leadership in clean technology.

5. Jaipur’s SaveTaxs Hits Major Milestone with 250,000+ NRI Tax Solutions

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Credit: Maskot/Getty Images

Jaipur-based tax consultancy SaveTaxs continues to make waves, having processed over 250,000 successful applications from non-resident Indians (NRIs) since its inception in 2023. Serving more than 15,000 clients across over 30 countries, including the United States, SaveTaxs is built on a digital-first platform. Co-founder Shubham Jain emphasized that the firm recognized early that NRIs needed more than traditional tax paperwork—they needed solutions aligned with their digital lifestyles. The company’s model uses automated assessments followed by personalized Chartered Accountant (CA) reviews to handle complex issues, including multi-jurisdiction income, capital gains, and DTAA optimization.

Globally, the Indian diaspora is comprised of an astounding 35.4 million people, so taxation is a serious consideration for individuals within this demographic. There are a range of issues that can impact non-resident Indians, including the fear of double-taxation and the proper reporting of foreign assets. Taxes are of particular import right now, as tax residency rules for NRIs were updated in February 2025.

Which headline this week most interests you?

Feature Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

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Rebekah Barton

Rebekah Barton

Rebekah's search engine optimization career began completely by accident as a college student. Over the course of her career so far, she has "grown up" with the SEO industry, from writing content while juggling classes to managing her own teams of writers and overseeing SEO strategy in subsequent roles. She is excited to bring her passion for high-quality content to CountingWorks, Inc.

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