The US Treasury Department has retroactively repealed the Excise Tax on Long Distance Calls

Today, the US Treasury Department retroactively repealed the 3% Excise Tax on Long Distance calls that was established in 1898 as a "luxury" tax to finance the Spanish-American war. On 2006 tax returns due next year, consumers and businesses will be able to apply for refunds of the Long Distance Excise tax collected from them over the past three years. For more information on this tax repeal, see Treasury Department Repeals Excise Tax on Long-Distance Calls and Phone Tax Laid to Rest at Age 108. You may have to register at the New York Times site to read the latter but registration is free. This change results in a savings on Long Distance calls made from landline phones, VoIP phones and Cell Phones.