Starting Wednesday, consumers who pay state sales tax on menstrual products will have the opportunity to reclaim those expenses through certain purchases of period care items.
The Tampon Tax Back Coalition, spearheaded by period care brands August, Cora, LOLA, The Honey Pot, Rael, Here We Flo, Saalt, and DIVA, will reimburse consumers for the taxes paid on eligible items sold by these eight participating brands.
The coalition’s primary objective is to combat the “tampon tax,” a colloquial term for the state sales tax imposed on menstrual products such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups in over a dozen U.S. states.
While many states exempt essential products like food and medications from sales tax, period care products are often considered nonessential under current tax codes.
“So much of the work that needs to be done involves changing public opinion and exerting pressure on legislators,” explained Nadya Okamoto, co-founder of August, an inclusive period care brand that focuses on providing products for all menstruators, irrespective of gender identity. “We’ve made some progress, but there’s still a long way to go.”
According to data from the Alliance for Period Supplies, twenty-one states in the U.S. tax menstrual items at standard rates, treating tampons and pads like any other nonessential product available at local retailers.
The annual cost of these taxes to consumers totals approximately $80 million, as estimated by Period Law, an organization mobilizing volunteer attorneys to advance period equity legislation.
The Tampon Tax Back Coalition originated from an initiative by August, launched in May, which has since been joined by seven additional brands. The coalition emphasizes customer priority and simplifying the reimbursement process.
“This shouldn’t even be a thing,” Okamoto asserted. “Customers shouldn’t have to go through multiple channels or figure out logistics just to get the ‘tampon tax’ reimbursed when they purchase one brand of tampons or pads.”
Yanghee Paik, CEO of Rael, a startup specializing in clean feminine care and skincare, hailed the coalition as a significant step toward affirming that period care products are essential for meeting basic medical needs.
“This issue isn’t widely known across the country,” Paik noted, describing the tax as regressive. “It’s very backward.”
Beatrice Dixon, CEO of The Honey Pot, admitted she only became aware of the tampon tax after founding her period care brand. “Before that, I didn’t even realize I, as a consumer, was paying it.”
Dixon described joining the coalition as an obvious decision.
To claim reimbursement, customers can visit the coalition’s website and initiate a reimbursement request within 10 days of their purchase of eligible items from the eight participating brands.
The coalition promises refunds via Venmo or PayPal within 24 hours of submission.
