Kansas To Collect Fee On Pre-Paid Wireless and Calling Cards

Starting Jan. 1, 2012 Kansas will begin collecting a minimal fee on the purchase of all prepaid wireless phones and phone cards, Kansas lawmakers created the Prepaid Wireless 911 Fee during the 2011 legislative session.

The fee, which is 1.06 percent of the retail cost for the prepaid phone or calling cards, will be paid to retailer at the time of purchase. Customers will not have to file additional paperwork.

The fee applies to the purchase cellular phones preloaded with a set dollar amount for minutes or units of air time, or sold with rebates for airtime; calling cards for cellular phones preloaded with a set dollar amount for minutes or unites or air time, the recharging of a reusable cellular phone calling card or the recharging of a cellular phone itself with additional minutes or unites of air time.

The money collected will be deposited into the 911 State Fund and will help Kansas communities develop emergency dispatch center. The money will help cover costs such as purchasing new equipment, upgrading existing systems or license and training fee.

The fund is managed by the Kansas 911 Coordinating Committee.

Retailers will remit the fee to the Kansas Department of Revenue electronically through the department’s electronic services link, KSWebTax. Retailers who are not familiar with the new fee and the filing requirements can get additional information on the department’s website, www.ksrevenue.org.