“This is just one more hidden tax on the American public,” Jones said. “If we repeal this outdated tax, we can give all consumers a break.”

Congressman Jones sponsored H.R. 3916, the Phone Tax Repeal Act, to repeal a federal telephone excise tax that was enacted by Congress in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War.  While it was intended to be a temporary tax, efforts to phase it out over the years have proven unsuccessful.  In 1990, Congress succeeded in making it a permanent three-percent tax on all telecommunications services. 

 H.R. 3916 has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means for consideration.