VoIP Death by Taxation

So what's up with telecommunications-related taxes in the USA?

I browsed a bill for DIDs for a 24 hour period with subtotal $204.87 and the additional tax looks like this:

Taxes and Surcharges
====================

01/31 COUNTY SALES TAX 6.32
01/31 FEDERAL EXCISE TAX 1.41
01/31 FEDERAL TRS FUND 0.79
01/31 FEDERAL TRS FUND 0.53
01/31 FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND 9.75
01/31 FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND 4.93
01/31 FUSF RECOVERY 0.00
01/31 LOCAL GROSS RECEIPTS TAX 0.93
01/31 LOCAL GROSS RECEIPTS TAX 2.98
01/31 METRO COMMUTER TRANS. DISTRICT 0.59
01/31 NEW YORK CO. 911 SURCHARGE 0.00
01/31 NY MTA SURCHG ON EXCISE TAX 0.94
01/31 NY MTA SURCHG ON FRANCHISE TAX 0.16
01/31 NY PUC FEE 0.40
01/31 NY STATE EXCISE TAX 3.95
01/31 NY STATE FRANCHISE TAX 0.48
01/31 NY TARGETED ACCESSIBILITY FUND 1.31
01/31 STATE SALES TAX 6.32

TOTAL TAXES AND SURCHARGES $41.79

25% more just in taxes...

... browse some of our team's other blogs at http://blogs.didx.net and http://blog.tmcnet.com/monetizing-ip-communications/. You're welcome to comment, contribute, and collaborate any time.