Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Happy Tax Day!

I was watching The View this morning and they were adding up all the taxes we pay that we don't always think about. Taxes on our phone bill, gas bill, etc. I thought it was interesting and really quickly added up the taxes we paid this past month excluding our 8.25% sales tax here in Los Angeles and our state and federal income taxes.

Fuel: $37.80
  • 18 cents per gallon state excise tax
  • 14 cents per gallon other state taxes
  • 18.4 cents per gallon federal taxes

Phone: $8.95
  • Federal excise tax - 74 cents
  • Utility User's Tax - $5.22
  • Funding to support the Public Utilities Commission - 8 cents
  • 911 State Tax - 23 cents
  • Temp. surcharge as allowed by Public Utilities Commission - $1.07
  • California Relay Service and Communications Devices Fund - 10 cents
  • CHCF-B and the CASF - 23 cents
  • California Teleconnect Fund surcharge - 6 cents
  • CA Universal Lifeline Telephone Service - 53 cents
  • CA High Cost Fund-A - 6 cents
  • Federal Universal Service Fee - $2.10

Department of Water and Power: $13.59

  • City utility tax - $12.07
  • Multi-family bulky item fee (WTH???) - 2 months - $1.28
  • State energy surcharge - 24 cents

Gas Company: $4.51

  • State Regulatory Fee - 2 cents
  • Public Purpose Surcharge - $1.17
  • Los Angeles City Users Tax - $3.32

Cell: $6.21

  • CA State 911 Fee - 44 cents
  • CA State High Cost Fund (B) - 21 cents
  • CA Teleconnect Fund Surcharge - 11 cents
  • CA State High Cost Fund (A) - 11 cents
  • Lifeline Surcharge - CA - 97 cents
  • CA Advanced Services Fund (CASF) - 21 cents
  • CA Relay Service /Comm Device Fund - 17 cents
  • Redondo Beach City Uut (funny because we don't even live in Redondo) - $3.99

GRAND TOTAL: $71.06

Now, I'm not complaining about paying taxes per se. I'd just like to know what these are and what I'm paying for!

Monday, April 7, 2008

Sun Valley 2

Only a few months late. Snowshoeing. It was AWESOME!