TAMPON
TAX

Menstrual products are an unavoidable cost for those who need them. The “tampon tax” refers to sales tax applied to tampons, pads, and other menstrual products.

The average person who menstruates has about 450 periods in their lifetime; with an average of $20 spent on menstrual products per cycle, the cost builds to an estimated $9,000 over a lifetime.

The average American woman will pay between $100 and $225 in tampon taxes over her lifetime.

Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education.

Two-thirds of those in poverty could not afford menstrual products in the past year; half of which needed to choose between menstrual products and food.

16.9 million people who menstruate in the US are living in poverty. 500 million people lack access to menstrual products and hygiene facilities.

Currently, 22 states charge sales tax on period products. Period products are essential and should be recognized as material basic needs rather than luxury goods.

Raise awareness of the lack of access to period supplies facing individuals in need.

Advocate for changes in law and policy to address period poverty and the tampon tax at the local, state, and national level.