dlathem
Premium
join:2000-08-11
Birmingham, AL
edited
| I got my ELM tax bill
Well, the early rays of the morning sun brought to me the new ELM bill and the taxes they are now charging. (Alabama)
07/03/03 Jul 3-Aug 2 Internet Access 17.95
07/03/03 Jul 3-Aug 2 DSL Telecom Sv 32.00
07/03/03 Gross Receipts Tax 1.96
07/03/03 USF Fee Recovery .70
I wonder how they decided the division of the $49 charge for the over all service.
It would appear that the $1.96 is a 6 percent Gross Receipts tax (sales tax), however this is prohibited under the Internet Tax Freedom Act because Alabama is not one of the states that had such a tax prior to 1998.
In addition, the Alabama Department of Revenue, by letter ruling, has said that Internet Service is not taxable under Alabama Utility Gross Receipts laws.
So the question is what is the authority under which they are charging the $1.96? I have tried to contact the ELM Tax Department. My email is answered by a bot and I am given a phone number to call (on my dime) that is a FAX MACHINE!
The USF..what can I say..how many times do we have to pay this same charge over and over again? Is Big Brother using this money to buy DSL service for folks in EBF, Alabama...I think not.
CDL
[text was edited by author 2003-07-06 14:30:49] |
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borborpa
Slipping Slowly Into Oblivion
Premium
join:2002-02-20
New Cumberland, PA
clubs: | The $1.96 is most likely tax on the "Telecom Sv" portion of the bill, not the "Internet Access" portion.
--
Testing, testing, 01 10 11 [AIM - BoyBandsMakeUGay] |
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dlathem
Premium
join:2000-08-11
Birmingham, AL | Oh yes, I calculated the 6 percent based on just the telecommunication portion. However, aren't we already taxed for access to the CO. Isn't this just piling on! |
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tommytran99
join:2002-04-08
San Francisco, CA
clubs: | We already pay tax for telecommunications here on CA on my monthly SBC/AT&T bill... I can see that one day.. we would be paying 50% amount of our DSL bill in taxes.. |
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DrStrange
Technically feasible
Premium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
 ·Stephouse Networks
·EarthLink
edited
| reply to dlathem
I just got my bill with that $1.96 tax and sent them a mail with a link to the CT DRS Policy Statement regarding sales and use tax on computer-related services [Internet access isn't taxable in CT].
I'll take it up with CT Department of Revenue Services tomorrow and see what their take is on it.
CT DRS Policy Statement 2003(3)
»www.drs.state.ct.us/pubs/PS's/20···3-3.html
************************************************************
EDIT: Received a useless response from EL. This looks like a pre-packaged response crafted by the same bright star who does the Windows help screens for Micro$oft.
We'll see what DRS says about it tomorrow.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear XXXXX XXXXXXXXX,
Thank you for contacting us.
We apologize for any confusion this issue may have caused.
We understand your concern regarding the tax charged on your account.
The amount of taxes that you pay on your telephone bill relate only
to those services reflected on your telephone bill. The amount of taxes
appearing on your EarthLink invoice represent taxes collected on local line telecommunication
services used to transport your internet service. These two telecommunication services - voice
and data transport - are separate services and are separately subject to various state and
local taxes.
We hope the above information will be helpful to you.
Should you have any further questions or concerns regarding this matter, please feel free to
contact us again. You may reach us via E-mail at dslservice@earthlink.net
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Electronic Support
EarthLink, Inc.
Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.
CSR ID#: XXXX
Case ID XXXXXXXXX
[text was edited by author 2003-07-06 19:01:44] |
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DrStrange
Technically feasible
Premium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
·Stephouse Networks
·EarthLink
| reply to dlathem
Oops. I guess telling them you're calling the DRS isn't covered in a script. I don't have an hour to give Tech Support just now, so I'll let DRS deal with it [about the only state agency in CT that gives me consistently good service]. 
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear XXXXX,
Thank you for your reply.
We understand your concern regarding the tax being charged by EarthLink on your DSL account.
In order for us to assist you in resolving this matter, please contact our Broadband Service
department by phone at 888.847.4708.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you
Should you have any further questions or concerns regarding this matter, please feel free to
contact us again. You may reach us via E-mail at dslservice@earthlink.net
XXXXXXXXXXX
Electronic Support
EarthLink, Inc.
Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.
CSR ID#: XXXX
Case ID XXXXXXXXX |
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Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL
edited
| Here's the Florida bill for anyone interested.
07/04/03 Jul 4-Aug 3:Internet Access 17.95
07/04/03 Jul 4-Aug 3: DSL Telecom Svc 32.00
07/04/03 USF Fee Recovery .66
07/04/03 State Communications Svcs Tax .77
07/04/03 Local Communications Svcs Tax 1.87
In Florida our Communications Tax is based on a State rate of 2.37% and a Local rate of 5.72% for my county. So technically they are over charing a nickel which isn't much. But if you multiply that by all of the Florida customers, that's alot of money they will be pocketing each month.
[text was edited by author 2003-07-06 21:16:42] |
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MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY
clubs:
edited
| reply to dlathem
here's for Brooklyn, NY
Date Description Qty Price Amount
-------- ------------------------------------------ ------------ -------------
07/05/03 Jul 5-Aug 4:Internet Access 1.00 17.95 17.95
07/05/03 Jul 5-Aug 4: DSL Telecom Svc 1.00 32.00 32.00
07/05/03 Local Gross Receipts Tax .81
07/05/03 USF Fee Recovery .70
07/05/03 MTA Surchg on Excise Tax .20
07/05/03 Telecom Excise Tax .86
-------------
New Charges: 52.52
MTA tax?! this is completly fucked up
and wtf is "excise" tax?
[text was edited by author 2003-07-08 17:36:25] |
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DrStrange
Technically feasible
Premium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
·Stephouse Networks
·EarthLink
| reply to dlathem
If you're familiar with your local tax laws and it doesn't look right, call the relevant local tax authority for clarification of the matter. I got a bill which included state sales tax, and internet access is exempt from sales tax in CT. I still have to call CT DRS for clarification myself [unusually busy week for the middle of summer over here]. |
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
|  reply to dlathem
This is in Georgia. On the 29.95 price match.
07/03/03 ADSL Promotional Offset 1.00 20.00CR 20.00CR
07/05/03 Jul 5-Aug 4: Internet Access 1.00 17.95 17.95
07/05/03 Jul 5-Aug 4: DSL Telecom Svc 1.00 32.00 32.00
07/05/03 USF Fee Recovery .25
-------------
New Charges: 30.20
-------------
Balance Due: 30.20
Regards,
Doctor Olds
--
Starfire is The Future Now! :D Clarke's Third Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." |
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Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL
| reply to MxxCon
Here's some info from your state's tax website concerning the MTA tax.
»www.tax.state.ny.us/statistics/p···_mta.htm |
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jackknife
join:2001-02-24
Phoenix, AZ
clubs:
| reply to dlathem
You all are getting of cheap! In Arizona, we apparently have to pay for the privilege of having this transaction.:D
07/02/03 Jul 2-Aug 1: Internet Access 17.95
07/02/03 Jul 2-Aug 1: DSL Telecom Svc 32.00
07/02/03 Transaction Privilege 3.56
07/02/03 USF Fee .71
-------------
New Charges: 54.22 |
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wizzy
join:2001-05-29
Chicago, IL
edited
| Here is Chicago. Are we the winners so far? Taxes jacked me up $5.40/month.
07/05/03 Jul 5-Aug 4:Internet Access 1.00 17.95 17.95
07/05/03 Jul 5-Aug 4:DSL Telecom Svc 1.00 32.00 32.00
07/05/03 USF Fee Recovery .66
07/05/03 Simp. Munic. Telecom Tax 2.29
07/05/03 State Telecom Excise Tax 2.29
07/05/03 State IMF .16
-------------
New Charges: 55.35
[text was edited by author 2003-07-10 19:59:46] |
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IronChefMoto
Premium
join:2001-02-08
Alpharetta, GA | reply to dlathem
My USF fee was all of $0.66. Go GA taxes! 
IronChefMorimoto |
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