March 25, 2023
By Shirley Bermejo
Staff Writer
Women struggle enough in this male-dominant world, which is why it is especially unfair for them to be taxed for an essential product whose need is based on their reproductive system.
Women require the use of menstrual hygiene products for two to seven days every month, with the average being five days. On average, they spend between $200-$300 per year on these products. This cost reflects inflation, which caused the price of these products to go up by an average of over 10% between 2021-2022.
For some females, the menstrual cycle begins at the age of 12 and does not stop until menopause, which is between 40-50 years old. Therefore, a woman spends thousands of dollars on menstrual hygiene products over the course of her lifetime.
In 2005, New Jersey became the third state in the nation to eliminate its tax on menstrual hygiene products.
Although there is no federal ban on taxing menstrual hygiene products, in 2020, the federal government began considering them as qualified medical expenses. What this means is that people can set aside earnings before filing their federal taxes to use for these healthcare costs.
Currently, 23 states have taken the positive step of not taxing period products. This includes New Jersey. In 2005, New Jersey became the third state in the nation to eliminate its tax on menstrual hygiene products. In the remaining states, period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as basic necessities. Therefore, they are taxed at the rate of other items like home decor, electronics, makeup and toys.
Women in Indiana, Tennessee and Mississippi are most affected by the sales tax on period products, as they pay a 7% tax on these products. This totals $14-21 per year, which is simply unfair.
The government should not profit off of women’s periods, and women should not be economically penalized for having a menstrual cycle. Therefore, all states should acknowledge the injustice of what is commonly referred to as the “tampon tax” and pass legislation to eliminate it.
