State Sales Tax

Currently, 20 states charge sales tax on period products (as of May 14, 2024). The sales taxes range from 4% to 7% in Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. 5 U.S. states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon) do not have a statewide sales tax. However, in many states, cities and counties impose an additional local sales tax.

Grass roots advocacy is how we end the tampon tax in all 50 states. Our Tampon Tax Toolkit will help you learn how to advocate for menstrual equity in your state. 

Does your state still tax period products? Use our template to craft and send off a letter to your state legslator to end the tampon tax.

People who menstruate require around 40 period products per cycle. The elimination of sales tax on these basic necessities helps all people who menstruate better afford the period products they require to reach their full potential.

It’s Time to

End the Tampon Tax

 If you live in a state that still taxes period products, you can email your legislators and governor to advocate to end the tampon tax in your state. Use our templates to help craft your letter and automatically find the state legislators representing you.

Period product tax achievements and current work.

2024

South Carolina – South Carolina passed a bill to exempt period products from taxation in May 2024. The bill went into effect on May 13, 2024.

2023

Texas – Texas passed a bill to eliminate the tax on period products in June 2023. The bill went into effect September 1, 2023.

2022

Nebraska – In April 2022, Nebraska ended its tax on period products.

Colorado – Colorado passed a bill to end the tampon tax June 2022. The bill went into effect on August 10, 2022.

Iowa –  In June 2022, Iowa exempted period products from sales tax. The bill will go into effect January 1, 2023.

Virginia –  In 2019, Virginia classified period products as necessities similar to food and dropped the tax rate to 1.5% instead of 7%. In July 2022, they removed the sales tax on essentials. The bill went into effect on January 1, 2023.

2021

Vermont – On, June 8, 2021, Governor Phil Scott signed into law a tax bill that included no tax on period products. The bill went into effect July 1, 2021.

Maine – In July of 2021, Maine amended their tax policy to include menstrual products as a ‘grocery staple.’

Michigan – HB5267, signed in November of 2021, ended the tax on period products.

Louisiana – Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill making period products tax free in June 2021. The bill went into effect July 1, 2022.

New Mexico – Effective January 2022, New Mexico has exempted the sales tax on period products by allowing retailers to deduct the tax on the products from gross receipts and governmental gross receipts. This method of exemption is not standard or direct, so evaluation is necessary to determine effectiveness and total number of taxpayers that actually claimed the exemption. Evaluation will be conducted by the New Mexico legislature in 2023.

2020

Washington – In April 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 5147 ending the sales tax on period products

2019

California – In June 2019, California did not include a tax on period products in their two year budget. Two years later California passed AB 150 to make period products tax exempt permanently. Assembly members Cristina Garcia and Lorena Gonzalez worked for years get period products tax free in California.

Rhode Island – Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed a tax bill which included ending the tax on period products in July 2019.

Ohio – Representative Niraj Antani sponsored HB 545 which eliminated the sales tax on period products in November of 2019.

Utah – In December 2019, Utah ended the tampon tax. During the 2020 general session, Utah repealed the bill that ended the tampon tax. Utah currently taxes period products.

2018

Maryland – On April 10, 2018, Maryland ended the tampon tax with SB0081.

Nevada – Nevada exempted period products from tax on November 6, 2018. The exemption is set to expire on December 31, 2028 because of measures enacted in the Nevada Constitution.

2017

Florida – In May 2017, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a law making period products including pads, tampons and menstrual cups tax-exempt. The bill was filled by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo.

Connecticut – Connecticut ended the tampon tax in June 2017.

2016

New York – New York banned the tampon tax in July of 2016. Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, the bill’s sponsor said, “Women statewide will no longer be burdened by a lingering tax that was levied at a time when women were not part of government and the decision-making process.”

Illinois – In August 2016, Illinois axed the tampon tax.

2013

Massachusetts – In 2013, Massachusett’s Surgeon General reclassified period products as medical devices making them tax free.

2005

New Jersey – New Jersey eliminated the tax on period products in 2005. They were the 3rd state to end the tampon tax. Long term economic studies from New Jersey have show that the tax break has a tremendous possitive affect.

1991

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania has not taxed period products since 1991. They fall under ‘paper goods’ in the state tax code and are not taxed similar to toilet paper, diapers and other material basic necessities.

1981

Minnesota – In 1981, Minnesota exempted all health products from state sales tax. They became the first state to end the tampon tax.