Here is a press release pertaining to the previous subject on the Federal Telephone Excise Tax Credit. I first talked about it in my "VoIPMonitor's VoIP News Roundup Yehaw" so here's some additional information provided by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service to assist you in getting your refund.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service alerts taxpayers to a new credit available for the 2006 tax year - the Federal Telephone Excise Tax Credit. Through this credit, taxpayers who have paid federal excise taxes on long-distance or bundled services through a landline, cell phone, fax and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) over the past three years will be able to claim a refund of those taxes paid. This credit is only available for the 2006 tax year.

"Through this new credit, any person or business that paid this tax for long distance calls made between February 28, 2003 and August 1, 2006 is eligible," said Mark Steber, Vice President of Tax Resources, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. "The IRS is predicting that approximately 146 million taxpayers will be able to claim this refund, which includes about 136 million individuals and couples filing tax returns as well as an estimated 10 million who will file Form 1040EZ-T only."*

Taxpayers have two choices when claiming this credit. If they saved their telephone bills for the past 41-months, they can tally the three-percent tax imposed on long distance and bundled service. A faster, more convenient way is to deduct the standard refund amount based on the number of exemptions claimed on a return. Individual taxpayers may claim from $30 for one exemption to a maximum of $60 for four exemptions. For example: For someone with three exemptions (married filing jointly with one dependent), the amount of the refund is $50.

Steber notes that taxpayers should be aware that the refund will be reflected as a credit on their 2006 tax return. The credit will either increase the amount of refund or reduce the amount of tax owed.

For questions on the phone refund or any other tax issues, taxpayers are encouraged to visit the Jackson Hewitt website for information, tips, and advice on getting started, including a "What to Bring to Your Tax Preparer" checklist.