DiPalma bill: No sales tax on feminine hygiene products

Posted 2/22/19

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Edith Ajello and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma are once again pushing for Rhode Island to exempt menstrual products from the state sales tax.

“Rhode Island should not be taxing …

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DiPalma bill: No sales tax on feminine hygiene products

Posted

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Edith Ajello and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma are once again pushing for Rhode Island to exempt menstrual products from the state sales tax.

“Rhode Island should not be taxing feminine hygiene products as if buying them is some kind of luxury that indicates a person’s ability to pitch in a little more to support the state. They are a necessity, and one that is already fairly expensive for those of limited means. You can’t buy them with SNAP, and many women and girls can’t afford as many as they actually need. The state doesn’t need to add to their costs. For the same reason we exempt food and clothing — necessity — we should exempt menstrual products,” said Senator DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Tiverton, Newport),

The legislation (2019-H 5307, 2019-S 0049) would exempt tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and other similar products used in connection with women’s menstrual cycles. Both sponsors have filed the bill since 2016, and it has been supported by the Rhode Island Medical Society, Planned Parenthood and the Women’s Policy Institute.

Of the 45 U.S. states that collect sales tax, 10, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, currently exempt feminine hygiene products. Canada eliminated the “tampon tax” nationwide in 2015, and several other countries have as well.

A box of 36 CVS brand tampons currently costs $6.29, on which the state would collect 44 cents sales tax. If a woman were to buy a box at that price every month for 40 years, she would pay about $211 in sales tax on them, a cost to which men are not subjected.

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