Telework Coalition Launches Petition to Support “The Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act of 2005”
The Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act will put an end to New York’s aggressive campaign to tax nonresident telecommuters on the income they earn while working outside New York, and it will prevent other states from adopting a policy like New York’s. This bi-partisan bill is essential to protect telecommuters nationwide.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 15, 2005 -- The Telework Coalition (TelCoa) is
the only non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting virtual,
mobile, and distributed work through education, technology, and legislation.
TelCoa is now reinforcing, with a petition drive, its support for legislation
that would put Federal muscle behind the effort to prevent States such as New
York from double taxing interstate telecommuters or otherwise imposing unjust
and financially burdensome taxes on them. The federal legislation TelCoa
supports is Senate Bill S. 1097, proposed by Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and House Bill H.R. 2558, proposed by
Representatives Chris Shays (R-CT), Tom Davis (R-VA), and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).
Both bills are titled “The Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act of
2005”.
“Connecticut workers help drive our economic growth. They
shouldn’t have to pay an unfair ‘toll’ tax simply because they work from home,”
said Dodd. “Telecommuters in our state play a big part in our economy and they
shouldn’t be penalized for their work. This measure will help shield and protect
them from unfair and unwarranted taxes and ensure that they can reap the
benefits of telecommuting.”
“This bill is about fairness. It is simply
unfair to tax Connecticut telecommuters twice.” Shays said. “We are promoting a
policy that will help bring taxation in line with current realities of
technology and promote telecommuting, which can improve gridlock and reduce
environmental harm.”
Connecticut residents are not the only ones
affected by New York's tax policy – a policy known as the “convenience of the
employer” doctrine. Residents of Tennessee, Florida, New Hampshire, and other
states have also been taxed by New York for work done in their home
states.
Nicole Belson Goluboff, a lawyer specializing in the legal
implications of telework and a member of the Advisory Board of The Telework
Coalition, said: “The Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act will put an end to New
York’s aggressive campaign to tax nonresident telecommuters on the income they
earn while working outside New York, and it will prevent other states from
adopting a policy like New York’s. This bi-partisan bill is essential to protect
telecommuters nationwide.”
Chuck Wilsker, President and CEO of The
Telework Coalition commented, "Getting buy-in from all parties involved in
initiating and sustaining a telecommuting program in an organization is hard
enough without putting an extra tax burden on many of the participants. Passage
of this law will eliminate this burden."
Interested parties have two ways
to show their support for this legislation. In addition to signing the online
petition available at www.TelCoa.org, they can link to a letter on the TelCoa site
that they can send by email or regular mail to their Senators and Congressional
Representatives.
TelCoa also seeks contact with any individuals who are
currently affected by an unfair state tax on interstate telecommuters. Contact
TelCoa at e-mail protected from spam bots.
About the Telework
Coalition
Based in Washington, D.C., the Telework Coalition (http://www.telcoa.org) brings
together a diverse array of organizations, companies and individuals with the
common interest of promoting awareness and adoption of existing and emerging
Telework and Telecommuting applications. The coalition’s mission is summed up in
the tag line, “Enabling virtual, mobile and distributed work through education,
technology and legislation.”
For more information, contact:
Chuck
Wilsker
The Telework Coalition
202-266-0046, ext. 101
e-mail protected
from spam bots
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb248369.htm