A state lawmaker is calling on the Department of Revenue to stop taxing internet services.
Congress recently extended a federal ban on taxes for internet access. However, State Representative Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee) says the Department of Revenue is ignoring that order. The Pewaukee Republican says the Governor and DOR have refused to phase out the tax, so Wisconsin consumers are paying a tax residents in most other states aren't facing.
Zipperer says the tax will cost Wisconsin consumers $100 million of the next two years. Zipperer says continuing to collect it drives up the price of internet service, making it harder for many people to afford the costs of high speed internet services.
However, DOR spokeswoman Jessica Iverson says Wisconsin's tax pre-dates the federal ban. As a result, the state is exempt from the regulation and is justified in continuing to collect the tax.
Legislation from Zipperer orders the state to comply with the federal ban.