Telework Coalition Endorses New Tax Bills That Encourage Telecommuting

As gas prices rise, Congressmen of different political persuasions speak out on the need to encourage telecommuting through sound tax policy.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 15, 2005 - To support the Federal governments call for Americans to conserve energy, The Telework Coalition (TelCoa), a non-profit telework advocacy group, urges Congress to focus on currently pending telework tax bills that have bi-partisan support and would help the nation consume less fuel.

• The Parents Tax Relief Act (S. 1305 and H.R. 3080), proposed by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Representative Lee Terry (R-NB), includes provisions to promote home-based work. Among these are a telecommuting tax credit for businesses and a standard home office deduction.

• The Telework Tax Incentive Act (S. 1292), proposed by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), would provide a $500 tax credit to be applied towards the purchase of equipment used for telecommuting. The credit could be taken by either the employer or the employee, depending on who paid for the equipment.

• The Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act (S. 1097 and H.R. 2558), proposed by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT), Tom Davis (R-VA), and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) seeks to remove a state-based penalty tax on interstate telecommuting.

According to Representative Shays, "Telework is a critical tool to help lower spiraling gas costs and our dependence on foreign oil. The Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act would facilitate telework by prohibiting a punitive tax on Americans who work from home for out-of-state employers. This is the time to make telecommuting easier for Americans, not harder," he said. "I am glad to have the support of The Telework Coalition in the effort to empower more Americans to conserve fuel by telecommuting."

With the nation urged to drive less, individual states must not be permitted to fine the citizens who do," said Nicole Belson Goluboff, an attorney specializing in telework law. Further, TelCoa President Chuck Wilsker observed, If there are steep penalties for telework, Americans may not be able to take advantage of new tax incentives."    

I am pleased the Telework Coalition – an organization dedicated to improving quality of life by increasing telecommuting in America – has chosen to endorse the Parents Tax Relief Act," said Representative Terry. Encouraging telecommuting is a key element of this legislation. Several provisions in the bill will encourage a growing trend to strengthen families and increase employee productivity through focused, dedicated full or part-time work from home. I look forward to working with the Telework Coalition to increase telecommuting nationwide."

Representative Davis concluded: The innovations of the information age - laptop computers, broadband Internet service, blackberries and so forth – continue to make location less relevant in the working world. Telework, by capitalizing on those technological advances, not only offers a broad range of benefits to employers and employees, but also helps reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and fuel consumption. Because of these important benefits, we need to encourage telework wherever possible by removing disincentives, and I applaud the Telework Coalition's help in that effort."

About the Telework Coalition:
The Telework Coalition (www.telcoa.org) is a nonprofit 501 (c)(6) headquartered in Washington, DC, promoting the awareness and adoption of existing and emerging distributed work services and technologies.

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