Within the past 30 years, the tax on period products has arisen in conversations surrounding the inequitable pricing of products marketed toward women. Commonly known as the “tampon tax,” the phrase refers to the sales tax rate that a government imposes on the retail price of menstrual products. Each state has the authority to determine which items are taxed or tax-exempt, with states such as Alabama and South Dakota removing said tax from “basic necessities” like Pixy Stix and rodeo entry fees.
So, why aren’t the products used for managing a biological process exempt from every state’s sales tax? To combat these inequities, The Tampon Tax Back Coalition was formed — a group of period brands reimbursing their customers for any taxes paid on their menstrual products.
August – the sustainable and tax-free period product brand – began the initiative in May 2023. Within a few months, the menstrual brands Here We Flo, The Honey Pot, DIVA, Lola, Cora, Saalt and Rael joined the coalition. Fortunately, many states have nulled the unjust tax on menstrual items, but there are still 21 others trailing behind in the movement for sales tax equity. If you’ve purchased menstrual products from the brands above in a state that sanctions a sales tax, you could be reimbursed within 48 hours!
How Can I Be Reimbursed?
- Sign up with your phone number on the Tampon Tax Back Coalition’s website.
*You will only receive payments if you sign up on their website
- Receive a text confirmation to verify that you’ve opted in.
- Share pictures of your receipts with the coalition’s number.
*Must send receipts within ten days of purchasing
- Wait for your payment while the coalition calculates how much in taxes was spent on their period products, and then receive your payment via Venmo or PayPal!
*Payments usually arrive within 48 hours
Even though 19 states have eliminated the sales tax on period products, Nadya Okamoto, the co-founder of August, says there’s much more work to be done to spread awareness about this inequity. Okamoto aims to keep this initiative and those alike going until all 50 states eradicate the tax on essential items. Australia, Ecuador, Scotland and Kenya are some of the countries that have abolished the tampon tax, with Kenya being the first country ever to do so in 2004. As of September 1, 2023, 17 countries have removed the tampon tax, and the United States has a long way to go until they join that list.
References
Baptista, D. (2023, September 1). What is the tampon tax and which countries have axed it?. Context. https://www.context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/what-is-the-tampon-tax-and-which-countries-have-axed-it
CBS Interactive. (n.d.). Chainsaws, Pixy Stix and other unnecessary items that are tax exempt, while tampons aren’t. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/period-tampons-pads-not-tax-exempt-chainsaws-pixy-stix-are/
D’Souza, D. (n.d.). Tampon tax: An explanation, Overview, and history. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/tampon-tax-4774993
Parija Kavilanz, C. (2023, October 12). Menstrual product makers form coalition to reimburse “tampon tax” to shoppers. WLKY. https://www.wlky.com/article/menstrual-product-makers-form-coalition-to-reimburse-tampon-tax/45508548#
Sustainable period products: Reimagine Organic Period Care. August. (n.d.). https://www.itsaugust.co/
Tampon tax – alliance for period supplies. Alliance for Period Supplies – It’s that time. *. (2023, June 21). https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/tampon-tax/#:~:text=New%20York%20%E2%80%93%20New%20York%20banned,tax%20in%20July%20of%202016
Tampon Tax Back Coalition. (n.d.). https://tampontaxback.com/
Taylor, K. R. (2023, October 14). Period care coalition offers “Tampon tax back” refunds. Kiplinger.com. https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/period-care-coalition-offers-tampon-tax-back-refunds#:~:text=The%20Tampon%20Tax%20Back%20Coalition,sales%20tax%20on%20menstrual%20essentials.