More States Tax Tampons Than Candy in America

[GMDino]

Quote:Feminine hygiene products are taxed more often than soda too.


Forty states tax tampons and other feminine hygiene products, a new report from Fusion finds.

That’s odd given the fact that the 45 states with sales taxes typically allow exemptions for “necessities” like groceries—and, well, menstrual products are a necessity for about half the U.S. population.

Only five states with sales tax—Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Jersey—have explicitly eliminated sales tax on tampons and pads, the report found.



That compares with 15 states (plus D.C.) that treat candy as sales tax-exempt groceries, according to recent data from the Tax Foundation. Eleven states don’t tax soda or candy, but 10 of those 11 do tax tampons.

The offenders?

1. Arizona
2. Georgia
3. Louisiana
4. Michigan
5. Nebraska
6. Nevada
7. New Mexico
8. South Carolina
9. Vermont
10. Wyoming

And it’s not just about candy and soda: Plenty of states tax feminine hygiene products but allow exemptions for much more seemingly frivolous purchases.

New York, for example, taxes tampons but apparently not dry cleaning, newspapers, American flags, admissions to live circus performances, or “wine furnished at a wine tasting.”

Perhaps we should take a cue from our northern neighbors: Canada’s government just announced that it will stop taxing feminine hygiene products this summer.

http://time.com/money/3907775/states-tax-tampons-candy-america/

If men got periods tampons and feminine hygiene products would be tax free and covered under all insurances.  

[Belsnickel]

(12-10-2015, 10:11 AM)GMDino Wrote: If men got periods tampons and feminine hygiene products would be tax free and covered under all insurances.

You have a link? I'd actually like to see if I am right on my thought that Virginia is in the list that taxes these things but taxes candy and soda at a reduced level due to them being groceries.

[GMDino]

(12-10-2015, 10:37 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: You have a link? I'd actually like to see if I am right on my thought that Virginia is in the list that taxes these things but taxes candy and soda at a reduced level due to them being groceries.

Dang it.  Can't believe I forgot to copy the link in!  LOL!



I added the link to the OP.  Sorry.


Edit: Here's a link to the original story: http://fusion.net/story/142965/states-that-tax-tampons-period-tax/

[*michaelsean*]

So this is a thing? Women use it and it's taxed so it's apocalyptic? Oh the humanity.

[Belsnickel]

(12-10-2015, 11:09 AM)michaelsean Wrote: So this is a thing? Women use it and it's taxed so it's apocalyptic? Oh the humanity.

I find it more interesting when discussing how things like candy, soda, and other junk food are more widely untaxed than personal care items like feminine hygiene products or other healthcare items. Just an interesting thing to me.

[*michaelsean*]

(12-10-2015, 11:20 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: I find it more interesting when discussing how things like candy, soda, and other junk food are more widely untaxed than personal care items like feminine hygiene products or other healthcare items. Just an interesting thing to me.

Yes but if it were just other healthcare items it wouldn't be a story.  

[GMDino]

(12-10-2015, 11:09 AM)michaelsean Wrote: So this is a thing?  Women use it and it's taxed so it's apocalyptic? Oh the humanity.

What is interesting is these items are taxed as "luxury items" while candy and soda are not.

Also even during "tax holidays" they are taxed.




Tampons are "luxury items".

Quote:Luxury taxes are taxes on expensive, nonessential items, such as luxury cars. Revenue from luxury taxes is redistributed through government programs that benefit all citizens.

[GMDino]

(12-10-2015, 11:35 AM)michaelsean Wrote: Yes but if it were just other healthcare items it wouldn't be a story.  

Such as?

Colostomy bags?  Condoms? Viagra? 

[*michaelsean*]

(12-10-2015, 11:41 AM)GMDino Wrote: Such as?

Colostomy bags?  Condoms? Viagra? 

No any healthcare items.  OH no it's for women only!  Well my wife uses that stuff, and our money all goes into one pot so I'm paying the tax too, and I'm not losing my mind over sixty cents a month.

[GMDino]

(12-10-2015, 12:19 PM)michaelsean Wrote: No any healthcare items.  OH no it's for women only!  Well my wife uses that stuff, and our money all goes into one pot so I'm paying the tax too, and I'm not losing my mind over sixty cents a month.

I guess you have a disconnect about it being a "luxury" item while candy is not.

Oh well...it just concerns women anyway.

[XenoMorph]

(12-10-2015, 10:11 AM)GMDino Wrote: http://time.com/money/3907775/states-tax-tampons-candy-america/

If men got periods tampons and feminine hygiene products would be tax free and covered under all insurances.  

why would men use feminine hygiene products? what you gonna do stick a tampon up your butt?


All states tax gas and everyone needs that. i believe almost all hygiene products are taxed. like deorderant soap and all the rest why would tampons be different?

[*michaelsean*]

(12-10-2015, 12:30 PM)GMDino Wrote: I guess you have a disconnect about it being a "luxury" item while candy is not.

Oh well...it just concerns women anyway.

And I pay that tax as well.

[*michaelsean*]

(12-10-2015, 12:39 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: why would men use feminine hygiene products?  what you gonna do stick a tampon up your butt?


All states tax gas and everyone needs that.  i believe almost all hygiene products are taxed.  like deorderant soap and all the rest why would tampons be different?

BECAUSE WOMEN USE THEM, AND THEY MUST BE PROTECTED!!!!!!!!

[Rotobeast]

Feminine hygiene products are the leading cause of septic system failures.
Nobody "needs" these high performance tampons, hence the luxury tax.

[GMDino]

(12-10-2015, 01:18 PM)michaelsean Wrote: And I pay that tax as well.

Sadly not all women can share their expenses with you.

(12-10-2015, 01:20 PM)michaelsean Wrote: BECAUSE WOMEN USE THEM, AND THEY MUST BE PROTECTED!!!!!!!!

It would be nice as they are the only people who need them so it is literally a tax on women.

[Benton]

(12-10-2015, 12:39 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: why would men use feminine hygiene products?  what you gonna do stick a tampon up your butt?


All states tax gas and everyone needs that.  i believe almost all hygiene products are taxed.  like deorderant soap and all the rest why would tampons be different?

I worked with a guy who used to use them. And complain constantly about his hemorrhoids.

Is toothpaste taxed? If so, tax tampons. If not, then don't. If having clean teeth is taxable, then having a clean ***** is taxable.

As far as comparing it to candy, meh. Stop complaining. You can avoid paying taxes on a racehorse, you should get to avoid paying taxes on a Mounds bar.

[*michaelsean*]

(12-10-2015, 01:56 PM)GMDino Wrote: Sadly not all women can share their expenses with you.


It would be nice as they are the only people who need them so it is literally a tax on women.

Yeah the 50 or 60 cents (at most) a month is a travesty. 

It's not a tax on women, it's a tax on a product.  But God bless you for protecting them from this miscarriage of justice.

You have officially run out of ammo and threw the gun.

[RoyleRedlegs]

(12-10-2015, 01:56 PM)GMDino Wrote: Sadly not all women can share their expenses with you.


It would be nice as they are the only people who need them so it is literally a tax on women.

wouldn't a literal tax on women be a yearly tax they had to pay just for having a vagina? 


Come to think of it, I'm surprised the evangelical types haven't pushed for this considering it may reduce the number of people who become transgendered due to avoiding the tax.

Or possibly take it to a chromosomal level  pending on if you end with an X or Y.

[GMDino]

(12-10-2015, 03:00 PM)michaelsean Wrote: Yeah the 50 or 60 cents (at most) a month is a travesty. 

It's not a tax on women, it's a tax on a product.  But God bless you for protecting them from this miscarriage of justice.

You have officially run out of ammo and threw the gun.

I posted a story about how a product that only women use is taxed as a "luxury".  Apparently this story is such an affront to your sense of righteousness you are still defending the "50-60 cents a month" as necessary.

Whereas candy and soda are not part of a luxury tax.

I don't believe I said it was a tragedy or a miscarriage of justice.  I do think its dumb and wrong.  I also thought it was interesting.  I guess I didn't realize that it would upset so many people to think that perhaps, may, there's a chance that it  was a dumb thing to tax something most women have to have as a "luxury".

I can't wait until everyone reads the gun control post...  

[CageTheBengal]

It is actually pretty astounding what the government considers luxuries compared to what isn't considered luxuries. When I worked at a Speedway gas station years ago we would have families from the trailer park come in with food stamp cards and go "grocery shopping". I always felt bad when I had to tell them they couldn't purchase hot and prepared food but your kids can go buy 50 candy bars.

Last year around Xmas there was a homeless couple and a child on the corner outside of a Krogers asking for money. Me and my girlfriend talked to them and they were telling us about how they have money on their food stamp card but they lack the resources to prepare food and their card wouldn't let them purchase anything hot and already cooked. They went on to talk about how with limited funds they have to make it stretch and healthier items simply cost too much so they feel like they were left with cheap junk food options. Similar to what stores like Dollar General are crammed full with. We went ahead and gave them a rotisserie chicken and some mash potatoes from the deli section and they offered to pay us back by buying us different food items their card can accept but we declined.

My point being is the government tried drawing a line between a luxury and a need and failed miserably. There is no way someone should be taxed for a healthcare need when others aren't being taxed for luxuries. That's across the board not just feminine products.