We’re going to talk about something that’s rarely discussed in public, but that nearly half the population deals with each month….

Periods!

And more to the point, how much our periods are costing us. In 40 states, menstrual products, including tampons, are considered nonessential and therefore a “luxury tax” (or what we like to call a Tampon Tax) exists.

Nonessential!?

Hardly! It’s time to talk about the tampon in the room. Menstrual products are most certainly essential—and those essential costs add up. In fact, over a lifetime, women who uses tampons for example, will spend around $2,000 on this product alone, untaxed. This monthly “luxury” costs women on average $70-$100 annually and no matter how you slice it, tampons, pads, and menstrual cups are totally essential!

Join me in calling on governors and lawmakers across the country to amend the tax code and get rid of the Tampon Tax! http://act.momsrising.org/efforts/help-put-an-end-to-the-tampon-tax-2

This all comes down to a simple categorization in our state tax code. Many products are considered essential: groceries, prescriptions, medical supplies, agriculture supplies, and even clothes in some states. But for some reason menstrual products are not considered essential and therefore are taxed. These products are a must for most women and therefore should be recategorized as essential or non-luxury in the tax code. Furthermore, if people can avoid paying taxes on nicotine patches, private jets, and moving their pet python to their new house, then the women of the United States should be able to buy tampons tax-free!

This tax becomes even more of a burden for families that are struggling to make ends meet. Menstrual products are not covered under any income assistance programs, including SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or food stamps). In households where every dollar counts, being taxed unfairly for being a woman with a monthly biological occurrence can really add up and make a difference.

This tax is literally bleeding our wallets!

Let’s say NO to the “Tampon Tax” and ask lawmakers to get rid of this unfair tax on women!

This issue is gaining steam around the country and even the world! President Obama first learned about the Tampon Tax in a YouTube interview a few weeks ago and said, “I suspect it’s because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed.” Petitions and protests have been launched in Australia, Great Britain, and Malaysia against their country’s version of the Tampon Tax.

There are currently only five states in the US that do not unnecessarily tax tampons, pads, and menstrual cups: Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Let’s join these states and put an end to the Tampon Tax! Sign our letter to your Governor and state lawmakers NOW!

When you are done signing our letter, please post this action link up on Facebook and Twitter. The more people that speak out against the unfair and unnecessary Tampon Tax, the better our chances are of making our voices heard.