Tester, Daines introduce bill to permanently ban government from taxing Internet

Senators’ bill extends Internet tax moratorium set to expire on Oct. 1

(U.S. Senate) -Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today introduced a bill to permanently ban federal, state and local governments from taxing access to the Internet.

The Senators’ bill, the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act, would permanently extend the current moratorium on taxing Internet access that is set to expire on October 1, 2015. Montana is one of a few states that would automatically impose a 3.75 percent tax on Internet access if the moratorium is lifted.

“The Internet provides instant access to information, allows small businesses to compete in a global marketplace, and strengthens education and health care,” Tester said. “Our bill ensures that access to the world’s greatest source of information will not be taxed.”

“The Internet serves as a gateway for economic opportunity and provides thousands of Montanans with access to critical communication services. Taxing the Internet would only stifle innovation and force new costs upon hardworking Montana families and small businesses,” Daines stated. “The Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act ensures that the Internet permanently remains a free engine of innovation and growth.”

Tester and Daines last Congress successfully rejected Congressional efforts to require Montana small businesses to collect sales tax on behalf of other states and local governments when selling products online.

Tester and Daines’ Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act is available online HERE.