Will Iowa Finally Get Rid Of The ‘Tampon Tax’?
The Iowa State Legislature passed sweeping tax reform during the 2022 session. Among the provisions in the bill would be eliminating the tax on feminine hygiene products. Its nickname is the tampon tax.
If you were unaware of such a tax, don't feel bad. The tax varies state by state. But according to the Des Moines Register, the so-called tampon tax is a sales tax charged on feminine hygiene products. In many states, including Iowa, menstrual cycle products are not considered to be essential and are therefore subject to a sales tax charge. Health items in Iowa that currently are exempt from a sales tax include prescription drugs, glasses and contact lenses, and prosthetic devices. Advocates say that the tampon tax is discriminatory towards women.
So what does the new Iowa tax law consider to be a feminine hygiene product? The bill would eliminate the sales tax in Iowa on tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, and sanitary napkins. The Register reports that the bill would also stop the collection of sales tax on diapers for both infants and adults.
According to the Register, 26 states, including Iowa, had tampon taxes on the books as of early in 2022. The Iowa Legislature unanimously approved the bill that would eliminate the tax, but governor Kim Reynolds has yet to sign it into law.
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