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TITLE 34PUBLIC FINANCE
PART 1COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
CHAPTER 3TAX ADMINISTRATION
SUBCHAPTER OSTATE AND LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES
RULE §3.344Telecommunications Services

(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

  (1) Basic local exchange telephone service--The provision by a telephone company of each access line and each dial tone to a fixed location for sending and receiving telecommunications in the telephone company's local exchange network. Services are considered basic irrespective of whether the customer has access to a private or party line, or whether the customer has limited or unlimited access. The term does not include international, interstate, or intrastate long-distance telecommunications services or mobile telecommunications services.

  (2) Internet--Collectively the myriad of computer and telecommunications facilities, including equipment and operating software, that comprise the interconnected worldwide network of networks that employ the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols to the protocol, to communicate information of all kinds by wire or radio.

  (3) Internet access service--A service that enables users to access content, information, electronic mail, or other services offered over the Internet and may also include access to proprietary content, information, and other services as part of a package of services offered to consumers. The term does not include telecommunications services. See §3.366 of this title (relating to Internet Access Services).

  (4) Interstate long-distance telecommunication service--A telecommunication service that originates in one state, crosses state lines, and terminates in another state.

  (5) Intrastate long-distance telecommunications service--A telecommunication service that originates and terminates within one state, but crosses the boundaries on subdivisions or jurisdictions within the state.

  (6) Mobile telecommunications service--The provision of a commercial mobile radio service, as defined in 47 C.F.R. 20.3 of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) regulations in effect on June 1, 1999 under the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act (4 U.S.C. §§116-126). The term includes cellular telecommunications services, personal communications services (PCS), specialized mobile radio services, wireless voice over Internet protocol services, and paging services. The term does not include telephone prepaid calling cards or air-ground radio telephone services as defined in 47 C.F.R. 22.99 of FCC regulations in effect on June 1, 1999.

  (7) Pay telephone coin sent--Telecommunications service paid for by the insertion of coins into a coin-operated telephone.

  (8) Place of primary use--The physical street address that is representative of where a customer primarily uses a mobile telecommunications service. That location must be either the customer's residential street address or the customer's primary business street address that is within the licensed service area of the service provider. The individual or entity that contracts with the service provider is the customer. If the individual or entity that contracts with the service provider is not the end user, then the physical street address where the end user primarily uses the service determines the customer's place of primary use. For example, a business owner who is located in Austin, Texas establishes mobile telecommunication service accounts for employees who are located in other cities. One employee does business from his home in Dallas, Texas. Two other employees work at an office that is located in Houston, Texas. Another employee works at an office that is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The home street address of the employee in Dallas is the place of primary use for that cellular phone account. The place of primary use for the two Houston employees is the street address of the Houston office. The place of primary use for the employee in Louisiana is the street address of the New Orleans office.

  (9) Prepaid telecommunications service--A wireless or wire telecommunications service for which the provider requires a customer to prepay the full amount prior to provision of the service. The term does not include the sale or use of a telephone prepaid calling card as defined in paragraph (15) of this subsection. A card, pin number, access code or similar device that allows a user to access only a specific network, or that is intended for use with a specific user account or device (e.g., to add more minutes to an existing account) is a prepaid telecommunications service and is taxed as the sale of a telecommunications service. Local sales tax is collected as explained in subsection (h) of this section.

  (10) Private communication service--A telecommunication service that entitles the customer to exclusive or priority use of a communications channel or group of channels between or among termination points, regardless of the manner in which such channel or channels are connected, and includes switching capacity, extension lines, stations, and any other associated services that are provided in connection with the use of such channel or channels.

    (A) As it relates to private communication service, the term "communications channel" means a physical or virtual path of communications over which signals are transmitted between or among customer channel termination points.

    (B) As it relates to private communication service, the term "customer channel termination point" means the location where the customer either inputs or receives the communications.

  (11) Seller--Any person who sells telecommunications services including a hotel, motel, owner or lessor of an office, residential building or development that contracts and pays for telecommunications services for resale to guests or tenants.

  (12) Taxable service--A telecommunications service or other taxable service listed in Tax Code, §151.0101.

  (13) Telecommunications services--The electronic or electrical transmission, conveyance, routing, or reception of sounds, signals, data, or information utilizing wires, cable, radio waves, microwaves, satellites, fiber optics, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), or any other method now in existence or that may be devised, including but not limited to long-distance telephone service. The term includes mobile telecommunications services and prepaid telecommunications services. The term does not include:

    (A) the storage of data or other information for subsequent retrieval or the processing, or reception and processing, of data or information intended to change its form or content;

    (B) the sale or use of a telephone prepaid calling card;

    (C) Internet access service; or

    (D) pay telephone coin sent.

  (14) Telephone company--A person who owns or operates a telephone line or telephone in this state and charges for its use.

  (15) Telephone prepaid calling card--A card or other item, including an access code, that represents the right to access telecommunications services, other than prepaid telecommunications services as defined in paragraph (9) of this subsection, through multiple devices, regardless of the network providing direct service to the device used, for which payment is made in incremental amounts and before the call or transmission is initiated. For example, a calling card that allows a user to access a long distance telecommunications network for the purpose of making international calls through a pay phone is a telephone prepaid calling card. The sale of a telephone prepaid calling card is taxed as the sale of tangible personal property.

  (16) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)--A telecommunication service where a phone call is transmitted over a data network. The term "Internet Protocol" is a catchall phrase for the protocols and technologies of encoding a voice call that allow the voice call to be slotted in between data on a data network, including the Internet, a company's Intranet, or any other type of data network.

(b) Taxable telecommunications services. The total amount charged for a taxable telecommunications service is subject to sales tax. Sales tax is due on a charge for the following:

  (1) basic local exchange telephone services;

  (2) enhanced services such as metro service, extended area service, multiline hunting, and PBX trunk;

  (3) auxiliary services such as call waiting and call forwarding;

  (4) intrastate long-distance telecommunications services;

  (5) interstate long-distance telecommunications services that are both originated from, and billed to, a telephone number or billing or service address within Texas such that if a call originates in Texas and is billed to a Texas service address, the charge is taxable even if the invoice, statement, or other demand for payment is sent to an address in another state;

  (6) mobile telecommunications services for which the place of primary use is located in Texas;

  (7) telegraph services that are both originated from, and billed to, a person within Texas;

Cont'd...

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