For immediate release:   Wednesday, April 4, 2012

For more information:     Jan Talley, Director, or Jane Page, Assistant Director,

                                          Business Tax Division, 605.773.3311

Information Available on Upcoming Changes to 911 Emergency Surcharge

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Revenue will be mailing information to all sellers of prepaid wireless services and telecommunication providers about the upcoming changes to the collection and remittance of the 911 Emergency Surcharge and the new Prepaid Wireless 911 Emergency Surcharge.

Beginning July 1, 2012, any seller and wireless service provider that sells prepaid wireless service, which includes prepaid wireless airtime cards and prepaid wireless minutes and plans, is responsible for collecting and remitting the 2 percent Prepaid Wireless 911 Emergency Surcharge.

The 911 Emergency Surcharge collected and remitted by all telecommunications service providers, wireless service providers, or Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol Service providers will increase to $1.25 per service-user-line, per month, effective July 1.

All sellers of prepaid wireless services and all providers that collect and remit the 911 Emergency Surcharges are required to register with the South Dakota Department of Revenue, even if the seller already has a sales tax license. To register, sellers can complete the registration form included in the direct mail materials, register online in the Business Tax section of the Department’s website, www.state.sd.us/drr  or call the Department at (800) 829-9188.

All surcharges will be remitted directly to the Department of Revenue on a monthly basis using SD EPath, an electronic filing system. 

In addition, the South Dakota Department of Revenue, in conjunction with the South Dakota Retailers Association, will conduct an informational webinar on the 911 Emergency Surcharge.  The webinar is scheduled for April 23, 2012. Webinar information is available through the South Dakota Retailers Association at www.sdra.org/surchargewebinar.

If you are a seller or wireless service provider and you did not receive the direct mail materials or for more information about registration and reporting of the 911 Emergency Surcharges, contact the South Dakota Department of Revenue at bustax@state.sd.us or call (800) 829-9188.

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