50-STATE STUDYAND REPORT ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAXATION Annabelle B. Canning Vice President and Legislative Counsel Committee On State Taxation September 14, 1999
Study Overview Analyzes the relative burdens imposed on general business and telecommunications providers Demonstrates the impact of the current tax system on the cost of telecommunications services Suggests specific solutions to address those problems
Highlights of Findings Gen. Bus. Telco. Avg. Effective Trans. Tax Rate 6.3% 18.2% # of Returns Filed Per Year 7,237 55,748 # of Taxes to Administer 103 310 14 States Apply Property Taxes to Intangible Values of Telecommunications Companies 15 States Assess Higher Property Taxes on Tangible Property of Telecommunications Companies
Total State & Local Transactional Tax Rate on Telecommunications
Filing Requirements General Business Telecommunications
Solutions Reduce & Streamline Industry-Specific Taxes Reform Property Taxation Exempt Equipment & Other Business Inputs from Transactional Taxes Simplify Transactional Tax Bases Provide Uniform Sourcing Rules for Transactional Taxes Simplify Tax Rate Structure Simplify Administration