TPA Joins Coalition Letter Urging House Cosponsorship of Internet Tax Freedom Act Legislation

There is a clear problem with the federal government and it is a taxing and spending problem. The best solution to both of these problems would be to spend less and tax less. Unfortunately, Washington isn’t known for their great ideas, cue the Internet. One area that the government would like to extend their taxing authority is the Internet and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has been actively fighting against this awful and harmful idea. In 2013, TPA was excited to see the bipartisan Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act introduced in the House by Judiciary Chair Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D – Calif.), Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio); and the introduction of the bipartisan Senate version from Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The House version permanently extends the moratorium on Internet access taxes and prohibits multiple and discriminatory taxation of Internet commerce. It has been fifteen years since the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) was first enacted. The Internet has become one of the primary forces driving commerce in the global economy today. It’s impossible for anyone to have thought fifteen years ago as to the importance of the Internet in our everyday lives. This issue will be extremely important in 2014 as the moratorium expires in November. Yesterday, TPA was proud to be on a letter from the Internet Tax Freedom Act Coalition urging cosponsorship for the House version of the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act in the hopes that consumers can be protected from more new taxes on Internet access by state and local governments searching for new ways to generate revenue for themselves.

Read the letter below:

February 11, 2014

The Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) Coalition is seeking your support as a cosponsor of the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (H.R. 3086). The ITFA Coalition is a group of communications and technology companies, business associations, and consumer groups, that believes policymakers should act now to permanently extend the moratorium on Internet access taxes and prohibit multiple and discriminatory taxation of Internet commerce. H.R. 3086, which is sponsored by Representatives Bob Goodlatte and Anna Eshoo, is already supported by 90 bipartisan cosponsors who are seeking to prevent consumers and small businesses from having new taxes burden their access to the Internet.

When the Internet Tax Freedom Act was first enacted in 1998, few could have foreseen the tremendous impact the Internet would have on nearly every aspect of American lives. In the sixteen years that ITFA has been our national policy, the Internet has become a crucial driver of economic growth and the engine of our 21st century economy. Countless innovations in productivity and connectivity have enhanced nearly every sector of the economy from business to healthcare, education to transportation.

The impact of the Internet is evident in the scope of its use to help workers look for new job opportunities, to provide students access to educational materials and classes from around the globe, to break down geographic barriers to provide small businesses and entrepreneurs entrance to new markets regardless of their location, and to enable consumers access to information and entertainment anywhere, anytime. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of the possibilities and opportunities as the growth in the “Internet of Things” over the last few years has shown.

Passage of this important bill before its November 1, 2014, expiration date is vital to ensuring consumers are protected from new, burdensome state and local taxes on Internet access and to prevent discriminatory and duplicative taxation of new, innovative goods and services. To avoid consumer frustration and uncertainty and to encourage the continued expansion of broadband access, Congress should move expeditiously to extend ITFA permanently. Prior extensions have passed overwhelmingly with broad bipartisan support and the ITFA Coalition urges those who have not yet cosponsored this critical piece of legislation to do so now.

Sincerely,

The Internet Tax Freedom Act Coalition