1 zillion dollars in tax break is the same as a zillion subsidy.
Not it's not. A subsidy is paid to you from government money that the government already has, regardless of your businesses revenue or profit or tax bill.
A tax break requires your business to generate revenue/profit/a tax bill, it is effectively a discount on the money you have to give the government - from money that you already have.
For example:
Tesla, in the USA they claim they operate at a loss. They pay no tax (not a tax break btw), and receive subsides for each car produced (the subsidy operates completely independently of the tax liability). If the US government were to give Tesla a tax break it would be worthless as their tax liability is already at zero.
Weta (film making company in NZ). They generate a revenue and profit, they are liable for say $100 million in tax, the government gives them a 'discount' on the tax (a tax break) and they pay $60 million. No subsidies.
Assuming the money used to pay tax is yours before the tax is calculated or due/calculated is something you might expect in a fully communist country.