Communications Taxation '19
Pre-Conference Tutorial - May 13, 2019
"Understanding Communications Taxation"
Led by Jim Nason, Tax Managing Partner, Telecomunications, Deloitte Tax LLP
With the Deloitte Tax Telecommunications Team
A longtime mainstay with over ten years at the TeleStrategies’ Communications Taxation event, this intense, yet entertaining, introductory seminar continues to be refreshed and updated to cover not only the basics of our current tax system for communications, but a deeper dive into key tax and industry considerations associated with “cutting edge” services and applications. This is an absolute must for people new to the communications space or the surrounding converging sectors or even those feel they might want a refresher of Communications Tax 101+. The first part of the program continues to be focused on the core aspects of telecom taxation with the afternoon taking on the more challenging issues facing today’s communications professional.
I. OVERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS TAXATION AND THE INDUSTRY
- Taxation of basic local, long distance, wireless, Internet, and video services
- How did we get here? Why is it so complex and seemingly like no other industry?
- Transaction taxation including gross receipts, sales, and telecommunications-specific taxes, fees and surcharges
- What’s the latest in technology that will impact your business and accompanying tax policy – a hint of what might be around the next corner…what you need to know about today’s buzzwords!
II. SOURCING AND APPORTIONING TRANSACTION TAXES
- Understanding the Goldberg rule and its application in today’s evolving communications marketplace
- Various state positions and formulas on interstate services – which state has the right to tax which service?
III. WIRELESS TAXATION INCLUDING PREPAID
- Sourcing of wireless services and the challenges in an evolving marketplace
- Tax issues specific to wireless service providers as well as the applicability of various taxes and surcharges
IV. EXEMPT CUSTOMERS, SALES FOR RESALE AND TAXATION
- Understanding telecommunications sale for resale exclusions and exempt customers
- Key differences among the jurisdictions regarding resale taxation
V. INTERNET AND EMERGING SERVICES TAXATION
- Taxation of Internet access and new/emerging services
- Differences in taxation of telephone, data, video and other related services
- Taxation of transport vs. content services vs. digital media vs. SaaS and the Internet of Things
VI. BUNDLED SERVICES TAXATION
- How are services being bundled, how are they taxed and what are the challenges to existing tax models?
- What approaches are the jurisdictions using to tax these bundles? Is there an answer to: what constitutes “books and records”?
VII. CURRENT TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TAXATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
- The “big” issues taking center stage in administrative decisions and the courts
- What is on the mind of tax policymakers in state and local jurisdictions?
VIII. TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES: AN OPERATIONAL TUTORIAL
- High level technical discussion of how telecommunications services are delivered – the technology behind the services you provide.
- What a telecommunications tax professional needs to know to “talk the talk”!
IX. REGULATION, FEES, SURCHARGES AND OTHER CHARGES (WHEN IS A TAX NOT A TAX?)
- Basic understanding of regulatory issues, concerns and changes facing today’s communications company
- Overview of regulatory mandates and related fees (911, USF, and more)
X. TRANSACTION TAX SYSTEM/PROCESS FUNDAMENTALS
- The very basics of what you need to know when implementing/upgrading an automated transaction tax solution
- Common pitfalls and opportunities
Schedule:
9 am –12 pm: Tutorial Sessions
12 – 1 pm: Lunch
1 - 4 pm: Tutorial Sessions
Lunch is included.
Dress is business casual.