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Internet Connection Tax Held Off for A Few More Years

Posted by Zonk on from the woohoo-keep-them-at-bay dept.

Christopher Blanc writes "The ban on taxing Internet connections was set to expire at the end of October, but thankfully the US Congress has acted. Last night, a Senate bill was passed that extends the 1998 Internet Tax Freedom Act for seven more years. There are still some details to work out (the House's bill only extends it for four years), but it's clear both houses of Congress are looking to keep taxes out of the picture for the near future. 'Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is excited at the prospect that Americans will be able to continue filing the tubes of the Internet tax-free. "The Internet has provided a powerful economic boost to our nation, and has become an important everyday tool for millions of Americans," said the senator. "By keeping Internet access tax-free and affordable, Congress can encourage Internet use for distance learning, telemedicine, commerce and other important services."'"

5 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. If nothing else by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The internet has made lots of money for shipping companies and employed a lot of delivery/logistics people. UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc. All those online shops have to get the product to the buyer somehow.

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  2. Re:Great the internet is not taxed ! by LuxMaker · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The power to tax is the power to destroy. ~Daniel Webster (1782-1852)

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    I regret that I only have one mod point to give per post.
  3. Re:Great news! by tjstork · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't mind giving money to the government as long as I get something for it, but -- if Uncle Sam is going to waste it -- can I have it back?

    No, you can't have it back. Your tax dollars go to support the nation as a whole. The government is a not a personal service. It is an organization to foster economic growth by making investments that will benefit the entire country. Sometimes those investments are good, and sometimes they go awry. Sure, Iraq looks bad, but in case you haven't noticed, the US Army is sitting on top of about half of the proved oil assetts on the planet earth, and that's not exactly a bad place to put it.

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  4. Re:Somebody wake me up by thebdj · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We could legalize/regulate/tax the sale of pot... no, that won't happen. Probably not and a pity really. Legalize all drugs, watch crime go down. Watch number of police needed drop. Watch the cost of policing go down. Watch taxes drop. Vicious cycle and we didn't even have to tax the pot.

    We could tax gasoline... that will happen It already does happen. Where do you live? States and municipalities tax Gas. Guess what, so does the US Government. So it isn't a "will happen" but "is happening".

    We could tax food stuffs... that will happen Depending on your locale this currently happens. Usually it is at a lower rate then regular items, but it does happen. This said, I doubt you will ever see the fed impose taxes on food stuffs short of imposing tariffs on imports.

    Seriously, a lot of stuff is already taxed. It is an ever growing list and this is some minor little thing for them to use when the debate comes up during the next presidential election.
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    "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."
  5. Re:Great the internet is not taxed ! by Some_Llama · · Score: 2, Interesting

    what pisses me off is that the money i earn is taxed, then when i spend it i get taxed again, how did we ever accept that "sales" tax should be paid by the buyer and not the seller?