Voting On Lower Cellphone Taxes in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania wireless consumers, fed up with paying double taxes on their monthly cell phone bills, are urging their state Senators and Governor Rendell to support legislation (SB 691) that would repeal the state's 5% Gross Receipts Tax (GRT). Thousands of consumers have contacted their elected officials - via email, direct mail and phone calls - asking for tax relief on their monthly wireless bills. The Pennsylvania Senate is expected to vote on SB 691 next week.

"The Pennsylvania House of Representatives heard loud and clear from wireless consumers looking to end this unfair, double tax on wireless. As a result, they voted to repeal the state Gross Receipts Tax. Now it's time for the Senate and Governor Rendell to stand up for the millions of Pennsylvania consumers who benefit from wireless every day. There is great momentum in the State Senate to repeal this excessive tax, and we hope Governor Rendell will sign this legislation as soon as it hits his desk," said Kimberly Kuo, Executive Director of MyWireless.org.

Pennsylvania ranks 8th in the nation for high wireless taxes, with the aggregate level of taxes, fees and government mandates on residents' wireless bills nearing 20%. That includes the 5% state GRT that state policymakers added to the 6% state sales tax, plus other federal and local taxes and fees."

Posted to the site on 31st March 2006