Excise Taxes and Fees on Wireless Services Increased 8.8 Percent in 2024
Wireless taxes and fees set a new record high in 2024.
23 min read
Scott Mackey
Scott Mackey is a Managing Partner at Leonine Public Affairs.
Latest Work
Excise Taxes and Fees on Wireless Services Drop Slightly in 2023
To alleviate the regressive impact on wireless consumers, states should examine their existing communications tax structures and consider policies that transition their tax systems away from narrowly based wireless taxes and toward broad-based tax sources.
18 min read
Excise Taxes and Fees on Wireless Services Increase Again in 2022
While the wireless market has become increasingly competitive in recent years, resulting in steady declines in the average price for wireless services, the price reduction for consumers has been partially offset by higher taxes.
41 min read
Excise Taxes and Fees on Wireless Services Increase Again in 2021
Taxes and fees on the typical American wireless consumer increased again this year, to a record 24.96 percent.
32 min read
Wireless Tax Burden Remains High Due to Federal Surcharge Increase
A typical American household with four phones on a “family share” wireless plan can expect to pay about $270 per year (or 22 percent of their cell phone bill) in taxes, fees, and surcharges.
36 min read
Wireless Taxes and Fees Jump Sharply In 2019
Wireless taxes, fees, and surcharges make up over 20% of the average customer’s bill–the highest rate ever. Illinois has the highest wireless taxes in the country at over 30%, followed by Washington, Nebraska, New York, and Utah. How high are cell phone taxes in your state?
36 min read
Wireless Taxes and Fees Climb Again in 2018
A typical family with four cell phones paying $100 per month for service can expect to pay about $229 per year in wireless taxes, fees, and surcharges. Nationally, these impositions make up about 19.1 percent of the average customer’s cell phone bill.
35 min read
Wireless Taxes and Fees in 2017
A typical American household with four wireless phones paying $100 per month for wireless voice service can expect to pay about $221 per year in wireless taxes, fees, and surcharges.
34 min read
