Even if you’re not ready for it, unfortunately the Tan Tax goes into effect tomorrow. What does it mean to us? The tanning tax applies to all electronic products designed for tanning that use one or more ultraviolet lamps with wavelengths between 200 and 400 nanometers. The good news is that other sunless tanning options such as spray tans and tanning lotions are not included in the tax.
There’s no way around this, it sucks. To make matters worse, the tanning industry is the only group that was singled out for the tax. Some fear that it’ll cause salons to close. You don’t have to worry about Extreme Tan And Smoothies closing up shop anytime soon, but some industry experts like Joseph Levy, vice president of the International Smart Tan Network, estimate that 9,000 jobs are in danager and more than 1,000 salons are at risk of being forced to close their doors.
It’s also pretty obvious that the tax also targets middle-class and female business owners because approximately two-thirds of tanning salons in the U.S. owned by women, he said.
The 10% tanning tax replaced a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery that was originally included in the health care reform bill.
That tax, nicknamed the “Botax,” would have included everything from Botox injections to breast implants and other elective surgeries. However, it was cut out of the bill after heavy lobbying from the medical and dermatology industries.
Because Botax was expected to generate $5.8 billion, double what the tan tax is expected to raise, many tanning salon owners and tanners are upset about the last minute switch because the tanning tax directly targets middle class women businesses. The Botax would’ve mainly impacted richer people who would have been more able to handle higher prices.
What do you think about the tan tax? Do you think it’s fair?
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