Understanding Taxes, Surcharges and Fees

In addition to the monthly service charges billed for WWT, Inc. d/b/a VOIP Networks (“VOIP Networks”), 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.

Cost Recovery

Administration Recovery Fee (ARF). An Administration Regulatory Fee (“ARF”) assessed on total invoiced charges (excluding taxes) will apply to all customer invoices. This charge is imposed to recover costs incurred by VOIP Networks 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 VOIP Networks 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 ARF, 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, VOIP Networks 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. VOIP Networks must provide LNP, as well as contribute to the FCC’s LNPA program, designed to diffuse the costs of administering LNP. VOIP Networks 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, VOIP Networks must contribute to the costs of numbering administration. Contributions are based on a percentage of VOIP Networks’ revenues from customers using international, intrastate and interstate communications services. The percentage varies annually.

Annual Regulatory Fee. VOIP Networks, as an interstate service provider, must pay an annual regulatory fee to the FCC. This fee varies annually.

State & Local Surcharges

State & Local Regulatory Surcharges

State Universal Service Fund (USF). VOIP Networks may also be required to contribute to State Universal Service Funds (“SUSF”). The funds may be used to assist in providing universal service and to support a variety of other programs at the state level. VOIP Networks collects applicable charges from its end-user customers. These charges are permissible pass-through surcharges but are not taxes or charges mandated by the government.

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 VOIP Networks to remit this fee to the governing authority. VOIP Networks collects applicable fees from customers and remits them to the relevant authorities.

State & Local Taxes

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.).

VOIP Networks 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.).

VOIP Networks 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.).

VOIP Networks 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.).

VOIP Networks 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.).

VOIP Networks pays local license taxes, and collects them from customers when required (or permitted) by applicable state and/or local law.

E911 Fees

In order to fund the provision of 911 emergency telephone service, state and local jurisdictions impose E911 fees on certain communications services. These fees are sometimes administered by the state department of revenue, but the majority of E911 fees are assessed and administered by local jurisdictions. E911 fees are intended to be passed on to the customer on the invoice. Sales for resale are generally exempt from E911 fees. Non-profit organizations are generally subject to E911 fees, whereas they might be exempt from taxes or other fees.

VOIP Networks collects E911 fees from customers when required by applicable state and/or local law.

The information on this page contains confidential information. This information is subject to change without notice. The information contained herein is intended only for VOIP Networks customers or their authorized representatives. Any unauthorized disclosure, copying, or distribution of this information, its contents, or any attachment is strictly prohibited. This information is intended for informational purposes only and not promised or guaranteed to be current, complete, or up-to-date and should be in no way be taken as an indication of future results. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.