More than ever before American consumers like you are using wireless to go online to buy and download what are called “digital goods & services”. Those include apps, music and ringtones, movies and TV episodes, e-books and video games.
The tax code in this kind of commerce is murky. Right now it’s possible you could be taxed by several different jurisdictions for the same digital purchase. For example, if your phone has one area code, but you buy something with your wireless device when you’re in another one, from a company in yet another part of the country, it’s possible today that you can be taxed by all three jurisdictions!
With state and local governments desperate for new revenue sources, that scenario is quite possible. That’s why it’s important to make sure wireless consumers are treated fairly and that we have a reasonable and sensible tax structure for such purchases.
Help From Congress: The ‘Digital Goods & Services Tax Fairness Act’
Thankfully, there’s a bill before the U.S. Congress that would prevent digital goods purchases from being subjected to multiple and discriminatory taxes. The bipartisan federal legislation on both sides of the Capitol called the ‘Digital Goods & Services Tax Fairness Act,’ would establish a “national framework” or some “rules of the road” for how this growing digital marketplace should be fairly taxed at the state and local levels.
What the Bill Does
- The legislation being considered would make sure consumers aren’t punished with multiple taxes on digital purchases. It would prevent consumers from being double or even triple-taxed on an mp3, video or on that latest incredible app, as could be the case today.
- The bill reinforces Congress’s important role in making tax policy for commerce that crosses state and international borders. That’s more important than ever with so many people making online purchases with their wireless device.
- It would clearly establish which jurisdiction (the consumer’s home billing address, presumably) has the right to tax digital transactions, and then tell all others…hands off!
Support for the Bill
- Representatives Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Steve Cohen (D-TN), H.R. 1860, and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Thune (R-SD), S. 971, have introduced identical, bipartisan bills, ‘The Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act of 2011′. They’re currently gaining support in the respective Judiciary and Finance Committees.
- These original sponsors are stepping up in common sense and pro-consumer fashion. They’re supporting a bill that would get ahead of a potential tax nightmare for wireless users. The possibility of multiple taxation for the same purchase is very real. As of 2011, 13 states have expanded their sales taxes to specifically include digital goods and services in their tax base, while many more have considered similar proposals.
What You Can Do
Wirelessly downloading your favorite apps, songs, games, ringtones, show or movie, e-books or GPS navigation system has never been easier. MyWireless.org® is part of a growing coalition to help make sure that no matter where you are when you hit the “send” button, you understand exactly who’s taxing you for it, and that you are only paying taxes on these goods and services once! Take action now, and tell your U.S. Senators and Representative to support digital commerce tax fairness for consumers by co-sponsoring and passing S. 971 and H.R. 1860.
