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Cellphone and Wireless Taxes

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Wireless taxes cell phone tax rates by state 2022 taxes, fees, and surcharges on wireless service 2023 wireless excise tax rates on cellular service

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
Global excise tax trends and global excise tax applications data and research on excise taxes

Exploring Excise Tax Trends

The tax base around the world is shrinking for traditional excise taxes, including taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and motor fuel. But newer excise taxes on things like carbon, cannabis, and ride-sharing are on the rise. What makes a good design for these taxes and where may excise taxes go in the future as the traditional “sin tax” base continues to shrink?

Build Back Better taxes 5G competition next generation wireless technology minimum tax on book income

How Do Build Back Better Taxes Affect 5G Competition?

One unintended consequence of the tax proposals in the Build Back Better Act is a higher potential burden on wireless spectrum investments, which could slow the build out of 5G technology as the U.S. races to compete with other countries—moving in the opposite direction of countries like China that are actively subsidizing 5G expansion.

5 min read
Cell phone, Wireless consumers face excess Tax Burdens

Wireless with Strings Attached

As of 2020, there were 448 million active cell phone and wireless plans in the U.S. than there were Americans. The taxes on those plans brought in approximately $11.3 billion and constituted a record 24.96 percent of the cost of an average cell phone bill. Explore why cellphone taxes are climbing, the places they’re the highest, the consumers they impact the most, and how things can be improved.

Excise Taxes, 2021 Excise Tax Rates and 2021 Excise Tax Trends

Excise Tax Application and Trends

The excise tax family is growing. Over the last decade, several products have become subject to excise taxes or are in the process of becoming so. Given this development, it is more crucial than ever that lawmakers, businesses, and consumers understand the possibilities and, more importantly, limitations of excise tax application.

77 min read
Zoom Video Communications, Zoom Video Calls, Zoom Calls, Zoom tax

Zoom Calls Not a Taxing Matter

Zoom Video Communications announced that, come November, the company will start collecting and remitting local utility and communications taxes in California, New York, Maryland, and Virginia.

5 min read
Cell phone, Wireless consumers face excess Tax Burdens

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
cell phone taxes, wireless tax rates once again rise

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
Cell Phone Taxes, Wireless taxes

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