Politics

The House Has Introduced A Bipartisan Bill To Keep Internet Access Untaxed

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

James Longley Contributor
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A bipartisan House bill was introduced Friday aimed at keeping Internet access permanently untaxed in the U.S.

The Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act makes Internet access permanently tax-free and seeks to abolish taxes on electronic commerce. A similar piece of legislation was passed in 2003 but did not make using the internet permanently tax-free and did not go as far to abolish electronic commerce taxes.

The bill was re-introduced by Republican Reps. Bob Goodlatte, Steve Chabot and Tom Marino and Democratic Reps. Anna Eshoo and Steve Cohen. It was first proposed in 2013. It passed the House on a roll call vote, but the Senate’s version failed to be enacted.

Prior to that original bill, Internet access had remained tax-free on a temporary basis, typically for three years.

It is expected to pass the House again, but the question is will the now-Republican controlled Senate make the bill law?