Understanding Taxes, Surcharges and Fees
In addition to the monthly service charges billed for Jackson Electric Cooperative (the “Cooperative”) services, 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.
Taxes and Surcharges
Federal Surcharges
Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF). The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the Cooperative to contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund (“FUSF”). The FUSF helps to make phone service affordable and available to all Americans, including consumers with low incomes; those living in areas where the cost of providing telephone service is high; public schools and libraries; and rural healthcare providers. The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) delegates the administration of the FUSF to the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”). Each quarter, the FCC adopts a “contribution factor” for FUSF support. The contribution factor is a percentage of the total interstate and international end-user telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP (“I-VoIP”) revenue that each carrier is responsible for contributing to the FUSF. As permitted by FCC regulations, the Cooperative has opted to bill the FUSF surcharge as a separate line item to end-user customers. Consistent with such regulations, the Cooperative only bills FUSF line item charges in an amount equal to the quarterly contribution factor currently in effect multiplied by the invoiced amount subject to the FUSF. This is a permissible pass-through surcharge but is not a tax or charge mandated by the government.
Please visit USAC’s Website for more information on the FUSF.
State & Local Taxes and Surcharges
State & Local Sales and Use Tax
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.).
The Cooperative collects sales and/or use taxes as required by 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.
The Cooperative collects E911 fees from customers when required by applicable state and/or local law.
Other Fees
Cost Recovery
Cost Recovery Fee (CRF). A Cost Recovery Fee (“CRF”) equal to 5% of invoiced charges (excluding taxes) will apply to services subject to direct regulation by the FCC. This charge is imposed to recover costs incurred by the Cooperative 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 the Cooperative 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 CRF, 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, the Cooperative must contribute a percentage of its intrastate, interstate and international 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. The Cooperative must provide LNP, as well as contribute to the FCC’s LNPA program, designed to diffuse the costs of administering LNP. The Cooperative 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, the Cooperative must contribute to the costs of numbering administration. Contributions are based on a percentage of the Cooperative’s revenues from customers using international, intrastate and interstate communications services. The percentage varies annually.
Annual Regulatory Fee.
The Cooperative, as an interstate service provider, must pay an annual regulatory fee to the FCC. This fee varies annually.