Understanding Taxes, Surcharges and Fees
In addition to the monthly service charges billed for Telecorp Inc. (“Telecorp”) services, surcharges, taxes, fees and other charges may be applied to your monthly invoice based on the type of service you have and your geographical location, among other factors. Certain taxes, fees or surcharges may show up as separate line items on your invoice. Examples include, but are not limited to the following.
Federal Communications Program Fees
Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF). The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires VoIP providers to contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund (“FUSF”). The FUSF helps to make phone service affordable and available to all Americans, including consumers with low incomes; those living in areas where the cost of providing telephone service is high; public schools and libraries; and rural healthcare providers. The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) delegates the administration of the FUSF to the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”). Each quarter, the FCC adopts a “contribution factor” for FUSF support. The contribution factor is a percentage of the total interstate and international end-user telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP (“I-VoIP”) revenue that each carrier is responsible for contributing to the FUSF.
Please visit USAC’s Website for more information on the FUSF.
An Administrative Cost Recovery Fee (“ACRF”) equal to a 2% of total invoiced charges (excluding taxes) will apply to all customer invoices. This charge is imposed to recover costs for fees, contributions and/or charges associated with telecommunications services for the sight and hearing impaired, local number portability, North American Numbering Plan administration, and administrative costs, fees and expenditures related to compliance with Federal regulatory programs and annual FCC regulatory fee obligations, along with other carrier and administrative expenses (including, but not limited to, costs imposed upon Telecorp by its suppliers).
This is a permissible fee but is not a tax or charge mandated by the government. For more information on programs supported by the ACRF, please see below.
Federal Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund. The TRS Fund was established by the FCC in 1993 to reimburse TRS providers for the cost of providing interstate TRS services. TRS services are telephone transmission services that provide hearing or speech challenged individuals with the ability to use a traditional telephone.
Under the FCC’s rules, Telecorp must contribute a percentage of its end-user communications revenues to the TRS Fund. The contribution percentage varies annually.
Local Number Portability Administration (LNPA). Local Number Portability (“LNP”) is a customer’s ability to keep existing phone numbers when switching to another service provider. Telecorp must provide LNP, as well as contribute to the FCC’s LNPA program, designed to diffuse the costs of administering LNP. Telecorp pays a proportionate share of the LNP costs in each region in which it operates and has customers. This fee varies frequently by region.
North American Numbering Program Administration (NANPA). The North American Numbering Plan (“NANP”) is an integrated telephone numbering plan for the Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) serving multiple countries including the United States and its territories. It is administered by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (“NANPA”).
Under the FCC’s rules, Telecorp must contribute to the costs of numbering administration. Contributions are based on a percentage of Telecorp’s revenues from customers using international, intrastate and interstate communications services. The percentage varies annually.
Annual Regulatory Fee. Telecorp, as an interstate service provider, must pay an annual regulatory fee to the FCC. This fee varies annually.
State & Local Regulatory Surcharges
Telecommunications Relay Services Fund. Some states also require contributions to State TRS Funds to offset the cost of providing local transmission services that provide hearing or speech challenged individuals with the ability to use certain communications services. Many states require Telecorp to remit this fee to the governing authority. Telecorp collects applicable fees from customers and remits them to the relevant authorities.
State & Local Sales and Use Taxes
All states, with limited exceptions, impose some form of state-level sales and use tax. The sales and use tax is generally imposed on the sale or use of tangible personal property and certain services. These taxes are intended to be passed on to the end user/consumer.
In many states, local jurisdictions also impose a sales or use tax. In some instances, the local sales and use tax is administered by the local jurisdiction. In other instances, the state administers the local sales and use tax.
Certain exemptions apply for sales for resale, and sales to certain types of entities (e.g., the federal government, state and local governments, non-profit entities, etc.).
Telecorp collects sales and/or use taxes as required by state and/or local law.
Communications Services Tax
Some state and local jurisdictions impose communications specific taxes on communications services in addition to or in lieu of sales or use tax. The communications services tax is intended to be passed on to the end user/consumer. The rates for communications services taxes are usually different than the sales and use tax rates and vary by jurisdiction.
Certain exemptions apply for sales for resale, and sales to certain types of entities (e.g., the federal government, state and local governments, non-profit entities, etc.).
Telecorp collects communications services taxes as required by applicable state and/or local law.
Gross Receipts Taxes
A number of states impose a gross receipts tax on communications service providers. In some states, gross receipts taxes are intended to be passed on to the end user/consumer. In other states, the gross receipts tax is the responsibility of the seller, and there is no pass-through to the end user.
Certain exemptions may exist for gross receipts taxes that are intended to be passed on to the customer, based on the type of entity making the purchase (e.g., the federal government, state and local governments, non-profit entities, etc.).
Telecorp pays gross receipts taxes, and collects them from customers when required (or permitted) by applicable state and/or local law.
Local Utility Taxes
Local utility taxes are imposed by cities and counties in a select number of states. Certain exemptions apply for sales for resale, and sales to certain types of entities (e.g., the federal government, state and local governments, non-profit entities, etc.).
Telecorp pays local utility taxes, and collects them from customers when required (or permitted) by applicable state and/or local law.
Local License Taxes
Local license taxes are imposed by cities and counties in a limited number of states.
Certain exemptions apply for sales for resale, and sales to certain types of entities (e.g., the federal government, state and local governments, non-profit entities, etc.).
Telecorp pays local license taxes, and collects them from customers when required (or permitted) by applicable state and/or local law.
