UNDERSTANDING YOUR BILL

TAXES

Business and Occupation Tax

Business Taxes

This is a tax that is normally based upon having a business, occupation, or residence within the taxing authority’s geopolitical boundaries.

CA High Cost Fund A

Connectivity Charges

CA state fund that provides subsidies to specific small independent telephone companies.  This fund is used to minimize any rate disparity of basic telephone service between rural and metropolitan areas. For other than wireless or VoIP revenue.

CA High Cost Fund A (VoIP)

Connectivity Charges

CA state fund that provides subsidies to specific small independent telephone companies.  This fund is used to minimize any rate disparity of basic telephone service between rural and metropolitan areas. This Tax Type is for reporting VoIP revenues.

CA Teleconnect Fund

Connectivity Charges

This fund supports California providers that offer discounts to schools, libraries, health care and community-based organizations with telecommunications services that qualify. For other than wireless or VoIP revenue.

CA TRS

Connectivity Charges

Similar to Telecommunications Relay Service Surcharge but only applied in California.

CASF

Connectivity Charges

California Advanced Services Fund was created to encourage deployment of broadband facilities for use in provisioning advanced telecommunications service in unserved or underserved areas of California. For other than wireless or VoIP revenue.

CASF (VoIP)

Connectivity Charges

California Advanced Services Fund was created to encourage deployment of broadband facilities for use in provisioning advanced telecommunications service in unserved or underserved areas of California. This Tax Type is for reporting VoIP revenues.

Communications Service Tax

Communication Services Tax

A tax on end users who consume communication services.

District Tax

Sales and Use Tax

District taxes are taxes associated with a particular district. Typically this is a school district, however, it could be a redevelopment, sports, entertainment or some other type of district.

District Tax NF

Sales and Use Tax

Similar to a District Tax, but does not include Federal USF and Federal FCC Regulatory Fees in the assessment base.

Excise Tax

Excise Tax

Excise taxes are imposed at the manufacturer and/or retail level and are virtually indistinguishable from a sales tax to the consumer. However, many excise taxes are considered part of the sale or gross receipts and are therefore taxes by sales and/or gross receipts taxes.

FCC Regulatory Fee (Satellite)

Regulatory Charges

A fee paid by Satellite Television service providers to fund the Federal Communications Commission.  The current rate is the last rate published by the FCC and is based upon the number of subscribers from a prior period, therefore it is an estimate of actual liability.  It the user does not wish to pass this fee on, or collects the fee by another mechanism, the rate can be overridden to 0%, or the user can override the rate to match their estimation. 

FCC Regulatory Fee (VoIP)

Regulatory Charges

Similar to FCC Regulatory Fee (Wireline), but applies to VoIP services.

FUSF (VoIP)

Connectivity Chargers

Similar to Fed USF Combined High Cost and School but applies only on interconnected VoIP services.  Following the safe harbor taxing and remittance standards for interconnected VoIP providers set by the FCC, this tax type is assessed at a rate of sixty four and nine tenths percent (64.9%) of the current Federal USF rate as established by the FCC.

Municipal Right of Way

Right of Way Fees

Tax imposed on local exchange telephone services to cover the municipal cost in managing and maintaining municipal rights-of-way. Typically these charges are accessed through a per line fee.

NY Franchise 184

Business Taxes

NY State imposed franchise tax on local telephone carriers who are principally engaged in the conduct of local telephone business (i.e. 50% or more of the carrier’s operating revenues are derived from local telephone business revenues.)

NY Local Transit Tax

Sales and Use Tax

Similar to Transit Tax, but applied only in New York.

NY MCTD 184a

Business Taxes

New York Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (NY MCTD) imposed surcharge based on the taxable local telephone services subject to the NY Franchise 184 tax (tax type 45 below) and said services have occurred solely within the specific NY counties that comprise the NY MCTD.

NY MCTD 186c

Excise Chargers

New York Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (NY MCTD) imposed surcharge based on the taxable telephone services subject to the NY 186e excise tax on telecommunications and said services have occurred solely within the specific NY counties that comprise the NY MCTD.

NY Sales Tax

Sales and Use Tax

Similar to Sales Tax, but applied only in New York.

Oklahoma Sales Tax

Sales and Use Tax

Similar to Sales Tax but applied only in Oklahoma.

P.U.C. Fee

Regulatory Charges

Public Utility Commission fees are used to fund the Public Utility Commission or Public Service Commission.

P.U.C. Fee (VoIP) NF

Regulatory Charges

Similar to P.U.C. Fee but applies only to VoIP services. This tax does not include the Federal USF or the Federal FCC Regulatory Fee in the assessment base.

Sales Tax

Sales and Use Tax

This is a tax on the privilege of purchasing goods and services.

Sales Tax NF

Sales and Use Tax

Similar to Sales Tax, but does not include Federal USF and Federal FCC Regulatory Fees in the assessment base.

Statutory Gross Receipts

Gross Receitps Taxes

Tax based upon the gross receipts of one or more transaction and service type combinations.

Telecommunications Infrastructure Maintenance Fee

Right of Way Fees

Fee used to fund the maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure (network, switches, etc.).

Transit Tax NF

Sales and Use Tax

Similar to Transit Tax, but does not include Federal USF and Federal FCC Regulatory Fees in the assessment base.

TRS (VoIP)

Connectivity Chargers

Similar to Telecommunications Relay Service Surcharge, but applies only to VoIP.

Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Charge

Connectivity Chargers

This California state charge funds a program that provides basic telephone service to qualifying low income families. For other than wireless or VoIP revenue.

Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Charge (VoIP)

Connectivity Chargers

This California state charge funds a program that provides basic telephone service to qualifying low income families. This Tax Type is for reporting VoIP revenues.

Universal Service Fund (VoIP)

Connectivity Chargers

Similar to tax type 13 (State Universal Service Fund), but applies only to interconnected VoIP services.

Utility Users Tax

User Utility Taxes

This is a tax imposed upon users of utilities. In this case the utility is telecommunications.

Utility Users Tax (Cable Television)

User Utility Taxes

Similar to tax type 16 (Utility Users Tax) but applies only on cable television.

Utility Users Tax (VoIP)

User Utility Taxes

Similar to tax type 16 (Utility Users Tax) but applies only to users VoIP services.