Foxx Votes to Keep the Internet Free of Taxation

Press Release

Foxx votes to keep the Internet free of taxation

Vote will extend the ban on Internet taxes for another four years

Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx today voted to extend the ban on Internet taxation for another four years. Her vote in favor of the Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act of 2007 (H.R. 3678) ensures that Americans are not subject to burdensome, new taxes on Internet access. The current Internet tax moratorium was set to expire in two weeks, on November 1, 2007.

"Any business or individual will tell you that the Internet is our most important resource for communicating, gathering information or doing business in today's economy," Rep. Foxx said. "Taxing this resource would surely damage our ability to compete and this bill extends the ban on harmful Internet taxes for four years. It's a good first step, but the American people want a permanent ban."

H.R. 3678, which will extend the ban on Internet access taxes for four years, is yet another temporary ban on Internet taxes. More than 235 members of Congress are currently sponsoring a complete, permanent ban on Internet taxation. Despite broad bipartisan support for a permanent ban, House Democratic leadership refused to entertain a permanent ban and voted 20-15 against such a ban in the House Judiciary Committee.

"My concern is that if a four-year ban makes sense," Foxx said, "why not pass a permanent ban? Putting Internet taxes to rest once and for all is good public policy for every North Carolina consumer and business."

Rep. Foxx is also a cosponsor of the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, which would permanently extend the moratorium on Internet access taxes and duplicative taxes on e-commerce. Foxx was also a leader against the tax when she served in the North Carolina Senate. Congress first instituted a temporary Internet tax moratorium in 1998 to encourage the growth of online commerce.

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