Florida Cell Phone Taxes Among the Highest in the Nation

BRADENTON — A recent study shows that Florida has the 4th highest average state-local cell phone tax and fee rate in the nation. The Tax Foundation's report had Florida at 16.55 percent. That means that once you add in the 5.82 percent federal rate, Floridians, on average, are actually paying 22.38 percent of their wireless bill in tax fees.

The U.S. average combined federal, state, and local rate is 17.05 percent according the report.

The five states with the highest state-local rates in the study were Washington State (18.6 percent), Nebraska (18.48 percent), New York (17.74 percent), Florida (16.55 percent), and Illinois (15.81 percent).

The five states with the lowest state-local rates were Oregon (1.76 percent), Nevada (1.86 percent), Idaho (2.62 percent), Montana (6.00 percent), and West Virginia (6.15 percent).

Four cities—Chicago, Baltimore, Omaha, and New York City—have effective tax rates in excess of 25 percent of the customer bill.