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Cybertelecom
Federal Internet Law & Policy
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Taxation :: Internet Tax Freedom Act Reference
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Law
- HR 3678
Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act of 2007 Public Law No: 110-108
- CRS Summary: Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to extend until November 1, 2014, the moratorium on state and local taxation of Internet access and electronic commerce (moratorium) and the exemption from such moratorium for states with previously enacted Internet tax laws (grandfathering provisions).
Redefines, effective November 1, 2003, "Internet access" to prevent certain states from claiming an expanded exemption under the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act from the moratorium. Delays the application of such redefinition until June 30, 2008, for a state or local tax on Internet access that is: (1) generally imposed and actually enforced on telecommunication services; or (2) the subject of litigation instituted in a state court prior to July 1, 2007.
Expands the term "Internet access" to include related communication services (e.g., emails and instant messaging). Redefines "telecommunications" to include unregulated non-utility telecommunications (e.g., cable services).
Provides for a specific exception to the moratorium for certain state business taxes enacted between June 20, 2005, and before November 1, 2007, that do not discriminate against providers of communication services, Internet access, or telecommunications.
Repeals the exception from the moratorium for taxing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
Renders inapplicable the grandfather provisions of the Internet Tax Freedom Act for states that repealed or nullified their tax laws on Internet access more than 24 months prior to the enactment of this Act.
Makes the amendments made by this Act effective November 1, 2007.
- Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, Pub. L. 108-435, § 7, 118 Stat. 2615, 2618 (2004).
- Congress included language requiring that we study the impact of the moratorium on state and local government revenues and on the deployment and adoption of broadband technologies
- "The 2004 act amended language that had exempted telecommunications services from the moratorium. Recognizing state and local concerns about their ability to tax voice services provided over the Internet, it also contained language allowing taxation of telephone service using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)." [GAO 2007 p 6]
- Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act , Public Law No: 107-75 November 15, 2001,
- Extenting to the Internet Tax moratorium, extending itfor two years, now terminating on November 1, 2003.
- Internet Tax Freedom Act, Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681-719 (1998), 47 U.S.C. § 151 Note.
Federal
Activity
Studies
Legislation
Papers
- USG
- Ozlem Uzuner and Lee McKnight. "Sales Tax on the Internet:
When and How to Tax?" (PDF)
IEEE 2001
- Findlaw: Tax
on Internet Sales
Caselaw
- Supreme Court
- QUILL
CORPORATION, PETITIONER v. NORTH DAKOTA by and through its TAX
COMMISSIONER, HEIDI HEITKAMP, 504 U.S. 298 (1992) Decided May 26, 1992
(holding that it is unconstitutional for an out of state company to be
required to collect taxes from a consumer of that state on the grounds
that the tax system is too much of a pain in the butt and therefore it
would impose an undue burden on companies).
- Appelate Court
- Officemax, Inc. v. United States, 428 F.3d 583, 585 (6th Cir. 2005) (Excise tax)
- District Court
- Comcation v. The United States, No 05-515T (US Court of Federal Claims August 17, 2007) (holding ISP is liable for excise taxes on PRI lines)
- Note: "For example, plaintiff claims that Congress evidenced its intent to exempt ISPs from
taxation in the Internet Tax Freedom Act, Pub. L. No. 105-277, §§ 1100 to 1104, 112 Stat. 2681-
719 (1998), but that statute only applies to taxes imposed by States and their political
subdivisions."
Links
Capitol Watch
Ecommerce Advisory
Commission
Ecommerce Tax
EFairness - A level playing
field for the new economy
Internal
Revenue Service
Information Technology
Industry Council: Taxes
Dick
Army: Armey to the IRS: Keep your hands off the Internet October 25, 2000
Sales Tax Institute
Rep. Cox Internet Tax Freedom Law Webpage.
Books
- The Internet Economy: Access,
Taxes, and Market Structure by Alan E. Wiseman
- Public Policy and the Internet
: Privacy, Taxes, and Contract (Hoover Institution Press Publication,
481.) by Nicholas Imparato (Editor)
- Electronic Commerce and
International Taxation by Richard L. Doernberg, et al
- Cyberlaw and E-Commerce by J.
Carl Poindexter, David L. Baumer
- Handbook on Electronic
Commerce by Michael Shaw (Editor), et al
- Electronic Commerce and
International Taxation by Richard L. Doernberg, et al
- The Internet and E-Commerce
Legal Handbook: A Clear and Concise Reference to Help You and Your
Business by Scott W. Pink
- Law and the Internet :
Aframework for Electronic Commerce by Lilian Edwards (Editor),
Charlotte Waelde (Editor)
- Understanding the Digital
Economy by Erik Brynjolfsson (Editor), Brian Kahin (Editor)
- The Internet Economy:
Technology and Practice by Soon-Young Choi, et al
- Internet Tax Moratorium gets Lucky Seven, IIA 11/1/2007
- Congress Extends Internet Tax Ban for 7 Years, Senate 11/1/2007
- Ban on Net access taxes extended until 2014, CNET 10/31/2007
- Coming next week: A tax on your e-mail?, CNET 10/26/2007
- Senate OKs 7 more years of tax-free Net access, e-mail, CNET 10/26/2007
- 602b Anyone? The E-Mail Tax Comes To Life, Tech Daily Dose 10/26/2007
- House OKs four-year extension of Net tax ban, CNET 10/18/2007
- Mistaken 'No' Vote On Net Tax Ban, Tech Dose Daily 10/18/2007
- House may ban Net taxes for another four years, CNET 10/10/2007
- Senators Tussle Over Net Tax Ban as Deadline Looms, Ecommerce Times 10/2/2007
- Bush administration endorses eternal Net tax ban, CNET 9/27/2007
- AT&T Urging Employees To Support Broadband Tax Ban - Telcos, cableco's & content companies come together., DSLreports 9/25/2007
- Will You Soon Pay a State Broadband Tax? - November 1 deadline looms, Congress still talking..., DSLreports 9/21/2007
- The Need for a Permanent Internet Tax Moratorium, Verizon 9/21/2007
- Stevens Calls on Congress to Extend Internet Tax Moratorium, Stevens 9/14/2007
- Net access tax compromise: A short extension?, CNET 7/27/2007
- Extension of Internet Tax Moratorium Called For, SITNEWS 5/25/2007
- Net taxes could arrive by this fall, CNET 5/25/2007
- Net Tax Moritorium and DSL, Cybertelecom 5/25/2007
- Stevens Calls for Internet Tax Moratorium to Be Extended, Senate 5/25/2007
- House Bill Would Ban Connection Taxes, Internet News 2/1/2007
- Congress Aims To
Extend 'Net Tax Ban - And completely eliminate Spanish American War
tax..., Broadband Reports 1/5/2007
- Senators
aim to ease up on Net, phone taxes, CNET 1/5/2007
- Legislator
counters proposal to tax online virtual communities, America's
Network 10/24/2006
- States
push to tax Net shopping, CNET 4/12/2006
- States
to Expand Push to Tax Internet Sales, Black Enterprise 9/2/2005
- States
Move Forward on Internet Sales Tax, Wash Post 7/5/2005
- States
yearn to collect online sales taxes, CNET 4/15/2005
- Senator Urges
Ban on Federal Internet Access Tax, Ecom times 4/11/2005
- Legislation
eyed to prevent federal Internet tax, CW 4/11/2005
- New York tax
ruling could discourage telecommuting, InternetCases 4/1/2005
- Taxing
returns: Forms take 6 billion hours to do, Seattle 4/15/2005
- Tax
Filers Swarm To The Internet, Informationweek 4/15/2005
- Senate
OKs four-year ban on Net access tax, CNET 4/30/2004
- McCain
Blasts Access Tax Ban Maneuvers, Internet News 4/30/2004
- Senators
Bargain on Internet Access Taxes, Wash Post 3/15/2004
- Kiss
your taxless Net goodbye, CNN 3/4/2004
- States
ask Congress to bless Net tax, cnn 9/26/03
- EU ends
free Internet tax ride, CNET 6/9/03
- States
Skirt Internet Tax Ban, Wash Post 6/9/03
- EarthLink
yields to Net taxes, CNET 6/6/03
- House
Panel Approves Permanent Internet Tax Ban, Reuters 5/23/03
- California
audits Barnes&Noble.com, CNET 4/30/03
- No
Net taxes, USA Today 4/1/03
- Study
Says Online Sales-Tax Losses Overstated, Reuters 3/14/03
- California
weighs Net sales tax, CNET 2/28/03
- Big
Stores to Charge Sales Tax Online, Wash Post 2/7/03
- Congress weighs ban
on Net taxes, CNET 1/10/03
- City
Sues To Force Taxes on Internet Cigarette Sites, Newsday 1/21/03
- Tax
Attack Tech Central 11/15/02
- End of the
Beginning: Internet Sales Tax Tech Central 11/15/02
- States
To Vote On Web Taxes Wash Post 11/12/02
- Ecommerce
taxation and the limitations of geolocation tools ITAA 10/28/02
- U.S. officials knock
EU tax proposal, CNET 2/11/02
- Should U.S. Collect
EU Download Taxes?, ZDNN 2/11/02
- E.U.
Online Sales Tax To Clear Next Hurdle, Wash Tech 2/11/02
- Internet Tax Freedom
Act Extended EcommerceTax.com 12/2/2001
- Beware The Internet
Tax Man, CNET 11/5/01
- Beware the Internet
tax man, MSNBC 11/5/01
- California
Governor Bars Local Governments from Taxing Internet Usage,
Newsfactor 10/30/01
- End
of Internet tax ban adds to tech industry's problems, Nando 10/22/01
- Gov.
Gilmore Makes Late Case For Prolonging Net Tax Ban, Washtech
10/22/01
- House
votes to keep Net tax ban, CNN 10/18/01
- Internet
Tax Moratorium Threatened, INews 10/18/01
- Internet
access tax bill debate heating up in Congress, CW 10/16/01
- House To
Vote Tuesday On Net Tax Moratorium Extension, Washtech 10/16/01
- Anti-Net
Tax Group Blasts Michigan Bill, Washtech 9/28/01
- Governors
Renew Push For Internet Sales Tax, Reuters 8/15/01
- Governors
Urge End to E-Tax Ban, Washtech 8/15/01
- Enumerating
E-Taxes, ISP Planet 8/8/01
- Internet
taxes get congressional scrutiny, CW 6/28/01
- Lawmakers Still
Talking About Net Taxes, IDG 6/28/01
- House
Panel to Consider Online Sales Tax Bill, Reuters 6/28/01
- House
Leader Will Block Online Sales Tax, Reuters 6/21/01
- GOP Tax Cut Could
Hurt High-Tech Economy - Sen. Kerry, Newsbytes 5/8/01
- Senator Rains
Anti-Net Tax Love On Techies, Newsbytes 5/3/01
- A
Break In The E-Tax Impasse?, BWO 5/1/01
- McCain
Nixes Net Tax Bill Markup, Washtech 5/1/01
- House Bill
Would Give States Net Sales-Tax Ability, Washtech 4/11/01
- McCain:
Compromise Possible In Internet Tax Debate, Washtech 4/14/01
- Cheney
Calls for Internet Tax Ban, Standard 4/19/01
- Cheney
Calls For R&D Tax Credit, Net Tax Ban, Reuters 4/19/01
- Sen. Graham
Stresses Need For Net Sales Tax, WashTech 3/14/01
- McCain: Tax Is
Nail In Coffin For Dot-coms, Newsbytes 3/14/01
- States
Argue For Taxing Internet Transactions, CNN 3/14/01
- New bill
kicks off battle over Internet tax moratorium extension, NWFusion
2/12/01
- Bill
Extends Internet Tax Moratorium Five Years, Washtech 2/9/01
- Bills
Support No Net Taxation, Wired 2/9/01
- 27 States OK Draft
Bill To Collect Internet Sales Tax Dec 22 newsbytes
- Treasury
Sec'y on Net Tax Challenges Nov 17, 2000
- Intel Exec
Calls for E-Commerce Tax WashTech 6/6
- Tech Group,
Sen. Ashcroft Push Tax Moratorium WashTech 6/6
- U.S.
Treasury Supports Internet Tax Ban E Comm Times 6/6
- House To Vote
Next Week On Judiciary Committee Net Tax Bill Newsbytes 5/5
- Net
Tax Moratorium Passes First Legislative Hurdle InternetNews 5/5
- Internet
tax moratorium extension gaining speed in House NandoTimes 5/5
- House Judiciary
Passes Five-Year Tax Moratorium Plan Newsbytes 5/4
- Sens. Gregg,
Kohl Take Aim At Internet Taxes Newsbytes 4/10
- Are
Election Politics Tainting the E-Tax Debate? ECommerce Times 4/10
- Congress May
Act On Tax Report Before 2001 Newsbytes 4/12
- Governors
Denounce Gilmore Net-Tax Report Newsbytes 4/12
- Senate Factions
Spar Over Net Tax Plans Newsbytes 4/12
- Governors
Criticize Internet Tax Panel NY Times 4/12
- Internet
Tax Panel To Deliver Report Congress Mulling Several Bills on Issue
Wash Post 4/12
- McCain Drops
Net Tax Ban Markup Plans Newsbytes 4/12
- Tax-Free
Net Lives Another Day Wired 4/12
- Congress
Plans Vote on Net Taxes Las Vegas Sun 4/7
- Governors - Net
Tax Plan Will Promote Federal Intrusion Newsbytes 4/7
- House
panel backs Internet tax moratorium, telephone tax repeal Nando Times
4/7
- Party
Politics Heats Up E-Tax Debate E-Commerce Times 4/7
- House leaders
embrace plan for no Net taxes C|NET 4/7
- Internet
Tax Panel to Ask Congress to Extend Ban for 5 Years NYTimes 3/31
- Taxing
Commission Approves Report to Congress Internet NEws 3/31
- A
Taxing Problem The Industry Standard 3/21
- Internet Tax
Group Rejects Compromise NWFusion 3/21
- Internet
tax group rejects compromiseComputerWorld 3/21
- Net tax panel
tries to negotiate consensus C|NET 3/21
- USAToday
- No Net tax
consensus reached USA Today 3/20
- Dumb and
dumber approach to taxation ZDNet 3/23
- Net
Tax: Standoff Then Handoff Wired 3/23
- 'Net
taxation proposal gathering steam NWFusion 3/17
- Net
Taxation Proposal Gathering Steam InfoWorld 3/17
- Will
Tax Panel Holy War Ever End? Ecommerce Times 3/14
- Net
tax recommendation may hinge on business bloc ComputerWorld 3/14
- States
Discuss Collecting Net Taxes 3/9
- Net
tax recommendation unlikely by April deadline 3/9
- States
Plan To Tax Online Sales ZDNet 3/6
- Web Should Not
Become Tax Haven - Summers Newsbytes 2/24
- VA,
MA governors say no to internet taxes InfoWorld 2/24
- U.S.
Treasury: Web Should Not Become Tax Haven ECommerce Times 2/24
- Goodlatte
Delegation Challenges EU On Net Taxes Newsbytes 2/22
- Japan
reportedly considering Internet taxes NandoTimes 2/22
The Internet Tax Freedom Act (Title XI of
P.L. 105-277, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1998)
TITLE XI--MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN TAXES
SEC. 1100. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Internet Tax Freedom Act''.
SEC. 1101. MORATORIUM.
(a) Moratorium.--No State or political subdivision thereof
shall impose any of the following taxes during the period beginning on
October 1, 1998, and ending 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act-- on November 1, 2003 [per Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act
passed Nov 15, 2001]
(1) taxes on Internet access, unless such tax was generally
imposed and actually enforced prior to October 1, 1998; and
(2) multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.
(b) Preservation of State and Local Taxing Authority.-- Except
as provided in this section, nothing in this title shall be construed
to modify, impair, or supersede, or authorize the modification,
impairment, or superseding of, any State or local law pertaining to
taxation that is otherwise permissible by or under the Constitution of
the United States or other Federal law and in effect on the date of
enactment of this Act.
(c) Liabilities and Pending Cases.--Nothing in this title
affects liability for taxes accrued and enforced before the date of
enactment of this Act, nor does this title affect ongoing litigation
relating to such taxes.
(d) Definition of Generally Imposed and Actually
Enforced.--For purposes of this section, a tax has been generally
imposed and actually enforced prior to October 1, 1998, if, before that
date, the tax was authorized by statute and either--
(1) a provider of Internet access services had a reasonable
opportunity to know by virtue of a rule or other public proclamation
made by the appropriate administrative agency of the State or political
subdivision thereof, that such agency has interpreted and applied such
tax to Internet access services; or
(2) a State or political subdivision thereof generally
collected such tax on charges for Internet access.
(e) Exception to Moratorium.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (a) shall also not apply in the
case of any person or entity who knowingly and with knowledge of the
character of the material, in interstate or foreign commerce by means
of the World Wide Web, makes any communication for commercial purposes
that is available to any minor and that includes any material that is
harmful to minors unless such person or entity has restricted access by
minors to material that is harmful to minors--
(A) by requiring use of a credit card, debit account, adult
access code, or adult personal identification number;
(B) by accepting a digital certificate that verifies age; or
(C) by any other reasonable measures that are feasible under
available technology.
(2) Scope of exception.--For purposes of paragraph (1), a
person shall not be considered to making a communication for commercial
purposes of material to the extent that the person is--
(A) a telecommunications carrier engaged in the provision of a
telecommunications service;
(B) a person engaged in the business of providing an Internet
access service;
(C) a person engaged in the business of providing an Internet
information location tool; or
(D) similarly engaged in the transmission, storage, retrieval,
hosting, formatting, or translation (or any combination thereof) of a
communication made by another person, without selection or alteration
of the communication.
(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) By means of the world wide web.--The term ``by means of
the World Wide Web'' means by placement of material in a computer
server-based file archive so that it is publicly accessible, over the
Internet, using hypertext transfer protocol, file transfer protocol, or
other similar protocols.
(B) Commercial purposes; engaged in the business.--
(i) Commercial purposes.--A person shall be considered to make
a communication for commercial purposes only if such person is engaged
in the business of making such communications.
(ii) Engaged in the business.--The term ``engaged in the
business'' means that the person who makes a communication, or offers
to make a communication, by means of the World Wide Web, that includes
any material that is harmful to minors, devotes time, attention, or
labor to such activities, as a regular course of such person's trade or
business, with the objective of earning a profit as a result of such
activities (although it is not necessary that the person make a profit
or that the making or offering to make such communications be the
person's sole or principal business or source of income). A person may
be considered to be engaged in the business of making, by means of the
World Wide Web, communications for commercial purposes that include
material that is harmful to minors, only if the person knowingly causes
the material that is harmful to minors to be posted on the World Wide
Web or knowingly solicits such material to be posted on the World Wide
Web.
(C) Internet.--The term ``Internet'' means collectively the
myriad of computer and telecommunications facilities, including
equipment and operating software, which comprise the interconnected
world-wide network of networks that employ the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols
to such protocol, to communicate information of all kinds by wire or
radio.
(D) Internet access service.--The term ``Internet access
service'' means a service that enables users to access content,
information, electronic mail, or other services offered over the
Internet and may also include access to proprietary content,
information, and other services as part of a package of services
offered to consumers. Such term does not include telecommunications
services, services, except to the extent such services are purchased, used, or sold by a provider of Internet access to provide Internet access.
(E) Internet information location tool.--The term ``Internet
information location tool'' means a service that refers or links users
to an online location on the World Wide Web. Such term includes
directories, indices, references, pointers, and hypertext links.
(F) Material that is harmful to minors.--The term ``material
that is harmful to minors'' means any communication, picture, image,
graphic image file, article, recording, writing, or other matter of any
kind that is obscene or that--
(i) the average person, applying contemporary community
standards, would find, taking the material as a whole and with respect
to minors, is designed to appeal to, or is designed to pander to, the
prurient interest;
(ii) depicts, describes, or represents, in a manner patently
offensive with respect to minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or
sexual contact, an actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual act,
or a lewd exhibition of the genitals or post- pubescent female breast;
and
(iii) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic,
political, or scientific value for minors.
(G) Minor.--The term ``minor'' means any person under 17 years
of age.
(H) Telecommunications carrier; telecommunications
service.--The terms ``telecommunications carrier'' and
``telecommunications service'' have the meanings given such terms in
section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(f) Additional Exception to Moratorium.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (a) shall also not apply with
respect to an Internet access provider, unless, at the time of entering
into an agreement with a customer for the provision of Internet access
services, such provider offers such customer (either for a fee or at no
charge) screening software that is designed to permit the customer to
limit access to material on the Internet that is harmful to minors.
(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Internet access provider.--The term ``Internet access
provider'' means a person engaged in the business of providing a
computer and communications facility through which a customer may
obtain access to the Internet, but does not include a common carrier to
the extent that it provides only telecommunications services.
(B) Internet access services.--The term ``Internet access
services'' means the provision of computer and communications services
through which a customer using a computer and a modem or other
communications device may obtain access to the Internet, but does not
include telecommunications services provided by a common carrier.
(C) Screening software.--The term ``screening software'' means
software that is designed to permit a person to limit access to
material on the Internet that is harmful to minors.
(3) Applicability.--Paragraph (1) shall apply to agreements
for the provision of Internet access services entered into on or after
the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1102. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.
(a) Establishment of Commission.--There is established a
commission to be known as the Advisory Commission on Electronic
Commerce (in this title referred to as the ``Commission''). The
Commission shall-- (1) be composed of 19 members appointed in
accordance with subsection (b), including the chairperson who shall be
selected by the members of the Commission from among themselves; and
(2) conduct its business in accordance with the provisions of this
title.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioners shall serve for the life of
the Commission. The membership of the Commission shall be as follows:
(A) 3 representatives from the Federal Government, comprised
of the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
United States Trade Representative (or their respective delegates).
(B) 8 representatives from State and local governments (one
such representative shall be from a State or local government that does
not impose a sales tax and one representative shall be from a State
that does not impose an income tax).
(C) 8 representatives of the electronic commerce industry
(including small business), telecommunications carriers, local retail
businesses, and consumer groups, comprised of--
(i) 5 individuals appointed by the Majority Leader of the
Senate;
(ii) 3 individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of the
Senate;
(iii) 5 individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; and
(iv) 3 individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives.
(2) Appointments.--Appointments to the Commission shall be
made not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act. The chairperson shall be selected not later than 60 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect
its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
(c) Acceptance of Gifts and Grants.--The Commission may
accept, use, and dispose of gifts or grants of services or property,
both real and personal, for purposes of aiding or facilitating the work
of the Commission. Gifts or grants not used at the expiration of the
Commission shall be returned to the donor or grantor.
(d) Other Resources.--The Commission shall have reasonable
access to materials, resources, data, and other information from the
Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, the Department of
State, the Department of the Treasury, and the Office of the United
States Trade Representative. The Commission shall also have reasonable
access to use the facilities of any such Department or Office for
purposes of conducting meetings.
(e) Sunset.--The Commission shall terminate 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(f) Rules of the Commission.--
(1) Quorum.--Nine members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum for conducting the business of the Commission.
(2) Meetings.--Any meetings held by the Commission shall be
duly noticed at least 14 days in advance and shall be open to the
public.
(3) Opportunities to testify.--The Commission shall provide
opportunities for representatives of the general public, taxpayer
groups, consumer groups, and State and local government officials to
testify.
(4) Additional rules.--The Commission may adopt other rules as
needed.
(g) Duties of the Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a thorough study
of Federal, State and local, and international taxation and tariff
treatment of transactions using the Internet and Internet access and
other comparable intrastate, interstate or international sales
activities.
(2) Issues to be studied.--The Commission may include in the
study under subsection (a)--
(A) an examination of--
(i) barriers imposed in foreign markets on United States
providers of property, goods, services, or information engaged in
electronic commerce and on United States providers of
telecommunications services; and
(ii) how the imposition of such barriers will affect United
States consumers, the competitiveness of United States citizens
providing property, goods, services, or information in foreign markets,
and the growth and maturing of the Internet;
(B) an examination of the collection and administration of
consumption taxes on electronic commerce in other countries and the
United States, and the impact of such collection on the global economy,
including an examination of the relationship between the collection and
administration of such taxes when the transaction uses the Internet and
when it does not;
(C) an examination of the impact of the Internet and Internet
access (particularly voice transmission) on the revenue base for taxes
imposed under section 4251 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(D) an examination of model State legislation that--
(i) would provide uniform definitions of categories of
property, goods, service, or information subject to or exempt from
sales and use taxes; and
(ii) would ensure that Internet access services, online
services, and communications and transactions using the Internet,
Internet access service, or online services would be treated in a tax
and technologically neutral manner relative to other forms of remote
sales;
(E) an examination of the effects of taxation, including the
absence of taxation, on all interstate sales transactions, including
transactions using the Internet, on retail businesses and on State and
local governments, which examination may include a review of the
efforts of State and local governments to collect sales and use taxes
owed on in-State purchases from out-of-State sellers; and
(F) the examination of ways to simplify Federal and State and
local taxes imposed on the provision of telecommunications services.
(3) Effect on the Communications Act of 1934.--Nothing in this
section shall include an examination of any fees or charges imposed by
the Federal Communications Commission or States related to--
(A) obligations under the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or
(B) the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
(or of amendments made by that Act).
(h) National Tax Association Communications and Electronic
Commerce Tax Project.--The Commission shall, to the extent possible,
ensure that its work does not undermine the efforts of the National Tax
Association Communications and Electronic Commerce Tax Project.
SEC. 1103. REPORT.
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Commission shall transmit to Congress for its
consideration a report reflecting the results, including such
legislative recommendations as required to address the findings of the
Commission's study under this title. Any recommendation agreed to by
the Commission shall be tax and technologically neutral and apply to
all forms of remote commerce. No finding or recommendation shall be
included in the report unless agreed to by at least two-thirds of the
members of the Commission serving at the time the finding or
recommendation is made.
SEC. 1104. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this title:
(1) Bit tax.--The term ``bit tax'' means any tax on electronic
commerce expressly imposed on or measured by the volume of digital
information transmitted electronically, or the volume of digital
information per unit of time transmitted electronically, but does not
include taxes imposed on the provision of telecommunications services.
(2) Discriminatory tax.--The term ``discriminatory tax''
means--
(A) any tax imposed by a State or political subdivision
thereof on electronic commerce that--
(i) is not generally imposed and legally collectible by such
State or such political subdivision on transactions involving similar
property, goods, services, or information accomplished through other
means;
(ii) is not generally imposed and legally collectible at the
same rate by such State or such political subdivision on transactions
involving similar property, goods, services, or information
accomplished through other means, unless the rate is lower as part of a
phase- out of the tax over not more than a 5-year period;
(iii) imposes an obligation to collect or pay the tax on a
different person or entity than in the case of transactions involving
similar property, goods, services, or information accomplished through
other means;
(iv) establishes a classification of Internet access service
providers or online service providers for purposes of establishing a
higher tax rate to be imposed on such providers than the tax rate
generally applied to providers of similar information services
delivered through other means; or
(B) any tax imposed by a State or political subdivision
thereof, if--
(i) except with respect to a tax (on Internet access) that was
generally imposed and actually enforced prior to October 1, 1998, the
sole ability to access a site on a remote seller's out- of-State
computer server is considered a factor in determining a remote seller's
tax collection obligation; or
(ii) a provider of Internet access service or online services
is deemed to be the agent of a remote seller for determining tax
collection obligations solely as a result of--
(I) the display of a remote seller's information or content on
the out-of-State computer server of a provider of Internet access
service or online services; or
(II) the processing of orders through the out-of-State
computer server of a provider of Internet access service or online
services.
(3) Electronic commerce.--The term ``electronic commerce''
means any transaction conducted over the Internet or through Internet
access, comprising the sale, lease, license, offer, or delivery of
property, goods, services, or information, whether or not for
consideration, and includes the provision of Internet access.
(4) Internet.--The term ``Internet'' means collectively the
myriad of computer and telecommunications facilities, including
equipment and operating software, which comprise the interconnected
world-wide network of networks that employ the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols
to such protocol, to communicate information of all kinds by wire or
radio.
(5) Internet access.--The term ``Internet access'' means a
service that enables users to access content, information, electronic
mail, or other services offered over the Internet, and may also include
access to proprietary content, information, and other services as part
of a package of services offered to users. Such term does not include
telecommunications services.
(6) Multiple tax.--
(A) In general.--The term ``multiple tax'' means any tax that
is imposed by one State or political subdivision thereof on the same or
essentially the same electronic commerce that is also subject to
another tax imposed by another State or political subdivision thereof
(whether or not at the same rate or on the same basis), without a
credit (for example, a resale exemption certificate) for taxes paid in
other jurisdictions.
(B) Exception.--Such term shall not include a sales or use tax
imposed by a State and 1 or more political subdivisions thereof on the
same electronic commerce or a tax on persons engaged in electronic
commerce which also may have been subject to a sales or use tax
thereon.
(C) Sales or use tax.--For purposes of subparagraph (B), the
term ``sales or use tax'' means a tax that is imposed on or incident to
the sale, purchase, storage, consumption, distribution, or other use of
tangible personal property or services as may be defined by laws
imposing such tax and which is measured by the amount of the sales
price or other charge for such property or service.
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the several
States, the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory, or
possession of the United States.
(8) Tax.--
(A) In general.--The term ``tax'' means--
(i) any charge imposed by any governmental entity for the
purpose of generating revenues for governmental purposes, and is not a
fee imposed for a specific privilege, service, or benefit conferred; or
(ii) the imposition on a seller of an obligation to collect
and to remit to a governmental entity any sales or use tax imposed on a
buyer by a governmental entity.
(B) Exception.--Such term does not include any franchise fee
or similar fee imposed by a State or local franchising authority,
pursuant to section 622 or 653 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 542, 573), or any other fee related to obligations or
telecommunications carriers under the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 151 et seq.).
(9) Telecommunications service.--The term ``telecommunications
service'' has the meaning given such term in section 3(46) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153(46)) and includes
communications services (as defined in section 4251 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986).
(10) Tax on Internet access.--The term ``tax on Internet
access'' means a tax on Internet access, including the enforcement or
application of any new or preexisting tax on the sale or use of
Internet services unless such tax was generally imposed and actually
enforced prior to October 1, 1998.
TITLE XII--OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 1201. DECLARATION THAT INTERNET SHOULD BE FREE OF NEW
FEDERAL TAXES.
It is the sense of Congress that no new Federal taxes similar
to the taxes described in section 1101(a) should be enacted with
respect to the Internet and Internet access during the moratorium
provided in such section.
SEC. 1202. NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE.
Section 181 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2241) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
(ii) by inserting ``and'' at the end of clause (ii); and
(iii) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:
``(iii) United States electronic commerce,''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
(ii) by inserting ``and'' at the end of clause (ii);
(iii) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:
``(iii) the value of additional United States electronic commerce,'';
and
(iv) by inserting ``or transacted with,'' after ``or invested
in'';
(2) in subsection (a)(2)(E)--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
(B) by inserting ``and'' at the end of clause (ii); and
(C) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:
``(iii) the value of electronic commerce transacted with,''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(d)
Electronic Commerce.--For purposes of this section, the term
`electronic commerce' has the meaning given that term in section
1104(3) of the Internet Tax Freedom Act.''.
SEC. 1203. DECLARATION THAT THE INTERNET SHOULD BE FREE OF
FOREIGN TARIFFS, TRADE BARRIERS, AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS.
(a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that the
President should seek bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements
to remove barriers to global electronic commerce through the World
Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, the Trans-Atlantic Economic Partnership, the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum, the Free Trade Area of the America, the
North American Free Trade Agreement, and other appropriate venues.
(b) Negotiating Objectives.--The negotiating objectives of the
United States shall be--
(1) to assure that electronic commerce is free from--
(A) tariff and nontariff barriers;
(B) burdensome and discriminatory regulation and standards;
and
(C) discriminatory taxation; and
(2) to accelerate the growth of electronic commerce by
expanding market access opportunities for--
(A) the development of telecommunications infrastructure;
(B) the procurement of telecommunications equipment;
(C) the provision of Internet access and telecommunications
services; and
(D) the exchange of goods, services, and digitalized
information.
(c) Electronic Commerce.--For purposes of this section, the
term ``electronic commerce'' has the meaning given that term in section
1104(3).
SEC. 1204. NO EXPANSION OF TAX AUTHORITY.
Nothing in this title shall be construed to expand the duty of
any person to collect or pay taxes beyond that which existed
immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1205. PRESERVATION OF AUTHORITY.
Nothing in this title shall limit or otherwise affect the
implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law
104-104) or the amendments made by such Act.
SEC. 1206. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this title, or any amendment made by this
title, or the application of that provision to any person or
circumstance, is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to violate
any provision of the Constitution of the United States, then the other
provisions of that title, and the application of that provision to
other persons and circumstances, shall not be affected
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