Here’s how an Iowa bill changes sales tax on feminine hygiene products

The Iowa Legislature unanimously accepted a sweeping tax invoice in the course of the 2022 legislative session. Included within the invoice is the elimination of the so-called tampon tax. Gov. Kim Reynolds hasn’t signed the invoice but, but when she does, the change would go into impact Jan. 1, 2023.

This is what which means for Iowans.

What’s a tampon tax?

Tampon tax refers back to the gross sales tax on female hygiene merchandise. In some states, tampons and different menstrual cycle-related merchandise aren’t thought of important, so they’re topic to gross sales tax. Well being objects which might be presently deemed important and are exempt from taxes in Iowa embody prescribed drugs, glasses and get in touch with lenses, and prosthetic units, from synthetic limbs to synthetic breasts.

Advocates say the tampon tax is discriminatory towards ladies.

“To me, the tax on this product that solely individuals who have intervals use is unfair as a result of it unfairly picks one intercourse over one other to levy a tax,” I Assist the Women volunteer Clare Pfeiffer informed USA Right this moment.

What is taken into account a female hygiene product?

In line with Senate File 2367, which is able to eradicate that tax in Iowa, female hygiene merchandise embody tampons, pantyliners, menstrual cups and sanitary napkins.

The invoice additionally eliminates gross sales tax on diapers for each kids and adults.

Extra:Editorial: 2022 Iowa legislative session served up ‘The Good, the Dangerous and the Ugly’

How is the tampon tax completely different from the ‘pink tax’?

Whereas the tampon tax is an precise regulation, “pink tax” is a time period that refers to “a type of gender-based discrimination named for advertising the colour pink towards ladies,” based on International Citizen.

In Enterprise Insider’s examination of the pink tax, it discovered that one model’s deodorant marketed towards ladies was listed at about $6, whereas the boys’s model was listed at $5.

Extra:Iowa Legislature adjourns session marked by main tax cuts and roadblocks on schooling

What number of states have a tax on female hygiene merchandise?

In line with interval fairness group Interval Regulation, 26 states, together with Iowa, nonetheless had a tax on interval merchandise as of February 2022.