Tampon Tax Protest Demands Georgia, Other States Drop Fee

ATLANTA, GA — When states, like Georgia, tax menstrual products such as tampons, they’re sending a message, whether intentional or not, says Lindsey Swedick, the marketing director for “Tax Free. Period.” LOLA, the first lifelong brand for a woman’s body, launched the campaign, in partnership with Period Equity. They’ve been spreading awareness in 33 states that still mandate a sales tax be placed on those feminine products. More than that, though, the movement has mobilized across the country preparing to take legal action if their demands aren’t met by Tax Day 2020.

“Those states do not consider menstrual products a necessity,” said Swedick. “If anything should be considered a necessity, it is period products. The fact that 33 states don’t, that really sends a message, loud and clear.”

States don’t don’t exempt menstrual products from sales tax are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

According to Swedick, research conducted by them and Period Equity – the nation’s first law and policy organization fighting for menstrual equity – have shown that collectively, those 33 states make about $150 million a year on people with periods from the tampon tax, and in Georgia alone, $9.9 million annually.

The bigger issue, though, is that the tax is more than “unfair” Swedick said.

“It’s a violation of the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution, therefore illegal; [also] unconstitutional, discriminatory.”

To help spread the word and rally up more supporters, they took their digital campaign to the streets, traveling to five different cities in a week: Austin, New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta and concluded in Greenville, South Carolina. On Nov. 26 the Tampon Tax Protest made a stop in both Douglasville and downtown Atlanta. They helped people file reimbursement claims for the period products, while sharing their call to action.

“It was incredible and super inspiring to see how many people in Atlanta really wanted to make sure that the Georgia Department of Revenue heard them,” Swedick said.

The campaign first kicked off in June, later followed by the multi-city tour in November. Letters have been sent to governors in all 33 states notifying them of the issue and protest. Now, Swedick says that they want to encourage as many people as possible to submit reimbursement claims, with the hope that it persuades the states to remove the tax.

“We feel like we have a really great opportunity to get the attention of the states when the department of revenue gets hundreds or thousands of these claims for reimbursement,” she said.

“We hope they’re paying attention so they do the right thing and lawsuits aren’t necessary.

April 15, 2020 is their deadline to have the tax eliminated in the 33 states. Since the campaign’s launch, two more states, Rhode Island and Ohio have eliminated the tampon tax.

To get involved people can visit Taxfreeperiod.com/protest and take the following steps:

• Step 1: Buy a box of tampons, pads, or liners, and keep your receipt.
• Step 2: Complete a claim for refund contesting the sales tax on your receipt as unconstitutional, available to download on taxfreeperiod.com.
• Step 3: Mail your form and receipt to your state’s department of revenue as an act of protest. Rally your community by posting about it and encouraging others to join in.