The D.C. Council is considering a measure that would eliminate sales tax on tampons and diapers as a way to make sure low-income women have greater access to those essential items.
“Women should not be taxed because they are women, nor should babies be taxed for being babies,” said council member Anita Bonds, the at-large Democrat who introduced the measure. “This legislation will especially help low-to-moderate-income mothers manage these costly expenses.”
The sales tax exemption so far has received broad support. Ms. Bonds was joined by six other members of the council in co-introducing the bill: Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1 Democrat; Mary Cheh, Ward 3 Democrat; Charles Allen, Ward 6 Democrat; Yvette Alexander, Ward 7 Democrat; LaRuby May, Ward 8 Democrat; and Elissa Silverman, at-large independent.
Ms. Bonds said low-income residents already pay too much in overall taxes and added that the sales tax elimination measure would go a long way in reducing that burden.
She cited an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy study that showed the bottom 20 percent of wage earners pay a tax rate of about 10.9 percent, while the richest 1 percent of wage earners pay a rate of about 5.4 percent.
The D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue was scheduled to testify Wednesday at a council hearing on how cutting the sales tax on tampons and diapers would affect the city’s budget.
While tampons and diapers currently are taxed in the District, medical items such as wheelchairs, prescription drugs (including erectile-dysfunction medication), pacemakers and prosthetic limbs are exempt from sales tax in the city.
Currently, five states — Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Jersey — do not tax tampons.
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Pennsylvania have exempted diapers from sales taxes.
Citing budget concerns, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed this month a bipartisan bill that would have eliminated sales taxes on tampons.
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