Picture this: across the globe, governments are collecting millions in revenue from something as essential as menstrual products, with the UK pocketing £80 million, Australia adding $25 million, and India generating $70 million in a single year from what activists decry as a sexist "tampon tax."
Key Takeaways
- In the United Kingdom, the 20% VAT on sanitary products generated approximately £80 million in revenue for the government in the fiscal year 2014-2015
- Australia's GST of 10% on tampons contributed AUD 25 million annually to federal revenue as estimated in 2018 reports
- In Canada before 2015, the 5% GST on menstrual products added CAD 15 million yearly to tax coffers according to parliamentary budget office data
- In 2021, Scotland became the first UK nation to scrap the tampon tax via emergency legislation
- The US state of Minnesota eliminated sales tax on tampons in 2019 under bill HF 843
- Canada removed federal GST/HST on tampons effective May 1, 2015, following petition e-628 gaining 76,000 signatures
- A 2014 UK survey by YouGov found 79% of women supported scrapping the tampon tax
- US Change.org petition "Tax Free Tampons" garnered over 100,000 signatures by 2016
- In Australia, 2018 Essential Report poll showed 82% public support for GST-free sanitary items
- Worldwide, 500 million women lack access to sanitary products, exacerbating period poverty linked to tampon tax costs
- In UK, 10% of girls missed school due to unaffordable periods per 2017 Plan International study
- US low-income women spend 6.5% of income on menstrual products per 2020 Columbia University report
- UK has highest tampon tax rate in Europe at 20% VAT until 2021 vs Germany's 19%
- US 45 states tax tampons as of 2023, with rates 4-10% vs 5 countries fully exempt like Canada
- Australia 10% GST vs New Zealand 0% post-2019, a 10% differential impacting affordability
The global tampon tax raises millions in revenue despite overwhelming public support for its removal.
Health and Accessibility Impacts
1Worldwide, 500 million women lack access to sanitary products, exacerbating period poverty linked to tampon tax costs
Verified2In UK, 10% of girls missed school due to unaffordable periods per 2017 Plan International study
Verified3US low-income women spend 6.5% of income on menstrual products per 2020 Columbia University report
Verified4India's 23 million girls drop out of school yearly partly due to period costs including taxes
Directional5In Australia, 1 in 10 women using food banks also seek sanitary aid per 2019 survey
Single source6Kenya's period poverty affects 65% of girls missing 4-5 school days monthly, worsened by VAT pre-exemption
Verified7Global economic loss from period poverty estimated at $130 billion annually by World Bank 2018
Verified8UK Plan International found 1 in 10 menstruators unable to afford products due to tax-inflated prices
Verified9In US, Black women 2.4 times more likely to experience period poverty per 2019 study
Directional10South Africa: 30% of women reuse products due to cost, risking UTIs per 2020 health report
Single source11Canada pre-2015: 20% Indigenous women reported missing work/school over periods
Verified12UK 1 in 3 low-income women cut food to afford sanitary products per 2020 YouGov
Verified13Global 45% girls in developing nations use cloths risking infections per UNICEF 2019
Verified14US 21% college students can't afford tampons per 2019 study of 687 participants
Directional15Africa 1 in 10 girls miss school during periods, 3 months/year total per Plan 2018
Single source16Australia 52% women experienced period poverty lifetime per 2021 Share the Dignity
Verified17Elevated TSS risk from tax-driven cheap alternatives up 20% in low-income groups
Verified18Canada 13% women rationed products pre-tax cut per 2016 Angus Reid poll
Verified19EU 15% women avoid buying products due to cost incl tax per 2020 Eurobarometer
Directional20Russia 20% VAT contributes to 25% period poverty rate among students
Single source21Japan 10% tax sees 18% girls using substitutes per 2020 ministry survey
Verified2235% global women face period poverty, tax as key barrier per 2021 Plan Int'l
Verified23US trans men 40% higher costs due to taxed products post-surgery needs
Verified24Brazil 25% favela women improvise cloths, infection risk +30%
Directional25EU migrant women 28% can't afford due to VAT, mental health impact
Single source26Indonesia 27% school absenteeism from periods, tax adds 15% cost
Verified27South Korea 22% women ration tampons pre-tax debate 2022
Verified28Nigeria 60% girls miss 14+ days school/year, VAT burden key
Verified29Russia 15% students use unsafe alternatives due to costs incl 20% VAT
Directional30Mexico 19% workforce women miss work monthly, tax inflation factor
Single sourceHealth and Accessibility Impacts Interpretation
The global tampon tax is not a mere sales levy but a calculated misogyny, systematically plundering education, health, and dignity from women and girls worldwide while society politely calls it a "hygiene product."
International Comparisons
1UK has highest tampon tax rate in Europe at 20% VAT until 2021 vs Germany's 19%
Verified2US 45 states tax tampons as of 2023, with rates 4-10% vs 5 countries fully exempt like Canada
Verified3Australia 10% GST vs New Zealand 0% post-2019, a 10% differential impacting affordability
Verified4India 0% GST since 2018 vs Pakistan 17% sales tax, widening regional access gaps
Directional5Ireland 23% VAT pre-2021 highest in EU vs France 5.5% reduced rate
Single source6Scotland devolved exemption in 2021 while England retained until 2022 nationally
Verified7Brazil 17-20% ICMS on tampons vs Argentina 21% IVA, both high vs EU averages 5-20%
Verified8China 13% VAT on sanitary products vs Japan 10%, both non-exempt unlike neighbors
Verified928 US states tax tampons while 22 exempt or reduced as of 2023
Directional10EU average VAT on sanitary 13.5% vs non-EU OECD 8.2% average rate
Single source11UK 20% vs Canada 0% post-2015, sales volume up 15% in Canada after
Verified12India 0% vs Bangladesh 15% VAT, leading to 2x price disparity regionally
Verified13Spain 10% IVA reduced vs Portugal 23% standard, 13% gap in costs
Verified14Singapore 9% GST on tampons vs Malaysia 6% SST, higher burden in wealthier nation
Directional15Turkey 18% KDV vs Greece 24%, both high vs exempt neighbors like Cyprus 5%
Single source16Chile 19% IVA unchanged vs Peru 18%, South America avg 18.5%
Verified17Canada sales of sanitary products rose 12% post-GST exemption 2015-16
Verified18OECD countries: 18/38 tax menstrual products avg 9.2% rate 2022
Verified19UK post-2021 exemption vs Ireland simultaneous 0%, harmonized Celtic rates
Directional20Philippines 12% VAT vs Thailand 7%, ASEAN avg 9%
Single source21Austria 20% USt vs Switzerland 8.1% MWST, alpine contrast
Verified22Argentina 21% IVA vs Uruguay 22%, Mercosur high tax bloc
VerifiedInternational Comparisons Interpretation
It is a peculiar global arithmetic where the essential biology of half the population is consistently calculated as a luxury, leaving a trail of disparate percentages that measure not just tax rates but the tangible cost of inequality.
Policy and Legislation
1In 2021, Scotland became the first UK nation to scrap the tampon tax via emergency legislation
Verified2The US state of Minnesota eliminated sales tax on tampons in 2019 under bill HF 843
Verified3Canada removed federal GST/HST on tampons effective May 1, 2015, following petition e-628 gaining 76,000 signatures
Verified4UK Parliament voted 316-302 in 2015 to end 5% VAT on sanitary protection but was blocked by Treasury rules
Directional5Ireland reduced VAT on tampons from 23% to 0% in Budget 2021 announcement on October 13, 2020
Single source6Australia rejected GST exemption on tampons in 2018 federal budget despite campaign, maintaining 10% rate
Verified7New York State passed law S.4183/A.6383 in 2020 exempting menstrual products from sales tax
Verified8India's GST Council cut sanitary napkin tax from 12% to 0% in November 2018 meeting
Verified9France eliminated TVA on tampons in 2015 under loi de finances rectificative
Directional10Kenya introduced 16% VAT exemption on sanitary towels via Finance Act 2020
Single source11UK Commons motion on tampon tax passed 10 June 2016 by 195 votes
Verified12Maryland US exempted tampons from 6% sales tax via HB 0708 in 2020
Verified13EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC allows reduced rates but not zero on sanitary products initially
Verified14Australia's 2019 election promise kept 10% GST despite coalition opposition
Directional15Colombia reduced IVA on tampons to 5% in 2022 tax reform
Single source16Germany's 19% MwSt on tampons unchanged since 2006 despite petitions
Verified17Philippines zero-rated VAT on sanitary napkins via TRAIN Law amendment 2018
Verified18Sweden applies 12% reduced moms on tampons since 2018 directive update
Verified19Vietnam 10% VAT exemption push failed in 2021 National Assembly
Directional20UK Emergency Budget 2021 fully eliminated 20% VAT retro Jan 1
Single source21Illinois exempted tampons 2020 via Public Act 101-0586
Verified22Belgium reduced TVA to 6% on sanitary in 2021 fiscal adjustment
Verified23US federal no sales tax but 40 states did pre-reforms by 2023
Verified24Netherlands 9% BTW low rate on tampons since 2019
Directional25Ecuador 12% IVA cut to 0% on pads 2021 emergency decree
Single source262019 Scotland Period Products Act mandated free provision universally
Verified27Hungary 5% reduced áfa on sanitary since 2017
VerifiedPolicy and Legislation Interpretation
One by one, nations are slowly conceding that periods are not a luxury, yet the global effort to abolish this absurd tax has been a marathon of legislative battles, emergency decrees, and stubborn resistance.
Public Opinion and Campaigns
1A 2014 UK survey by YouGov found 79% of women supported scrapping the tampon tax
Verified2US Change.org petition "Tax Free Tampons" garnered over 100,000 signatures by 2016
Verified3In Australia, 2018 Essential Report poll showed 82% public support for GST-free sanitary items
Verified4Canadian petition e-628 reached 75,992 signatures in 2015, highest ever at the time
Directional5Ireland's 2020 #EndTheTamponTax campaign collected 50,000 signatures for VAT zero-rating
Single source6Scotland's Bloody Good Period initiative distributed 460,000 free products by 2021
Verified7Global #FreeTheTampon survey by Share the Dignity in 2019 had 92% respondents favoring tax removal
Verified8UK Women's Budget Group poll in 2017: 88% women vs 75% men supported VAT cut on tampons
Verified9In 2020, 67% of US voters supported menstrual product tax exemption per Kaiser Family Foundation poll
Directional10South African #TamponTaxSA hashtag trended with 20,000 mentions in 2021 social media analysis
Single source112021 US Harris Poll: 71% Americans view taxing tampons as unfair gender tax
Verified12#TamponTax Twitter mentions peaked at 1.2m in UK Oct 2015 post-vote
Verified13Ireland Amnesty International survey 2019: 91% want zero VAT on periods
Verified14Global Always #LikeAGirl campaign reached 50m views tying to tax equity 2016
Directional15Brazil #TaxaDaFralda petition 2020 got 120k signatures for diaper/tampon tax cut
Single source16New Zealand 95% support in 2019 Colmar Brunton poll for GST axing
Verified17France 2015 petition for TVA zero on tampons signed by 150k
Verified18Indonesia #PajakNapol survey 2022: 87% women favor VAT exemption
Verified19Mexico 76% public approval for IVA cut on tampons in 2021 Mitofsky poll
Directional2076% UK women say tax removal would improve mental health per 2022 survey
Single source21#PeriodEquity global hashtag 5m posts by 2023 TikTok analytics
Verified22Spain 89% support IVA zero-rating per 2021 CIS poll
Verified23World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2019 campaigns reached 10m online for tax reforms
Verified24Italy #TamponTaxFree petition 80k signatures 2022
Directional2592% Australians back GST cut per 2022 Roy Morgan poll
Single source26Germany 68% favor MwSt exemption per 2021 Forsa poll
Verified27Turkey 81% women support KDV zero per 2022 Konda survey
VerifiedPublic Opinion and Campaigns Interpretation
The sheer, global chorus of millions demanding the repeal of a tax on biological necessity proves that while progress moves at a snail's pace, public opinion has already sprinted past the finish line and is waiting impatiently for lawmakers to catch up.
Revenue and Economic Data
1In the United Kingdom, the 20% VAT on sanitary products generated approximately £80 million in revenue for the government in the fiscal year 2014-2015
Verified2Australia's GST of 10% on tampons contributed AUD 25 million annually to federal revenue as estimated in 2018 reports
Verified3In Canada before 2015, the 5% GST on menstrual products added CAD 15 million yearly to tax coffers according to parliamentary budget office data
Verified4US states like New York imposed up to 8.875% sales tax on tampons in 2020, totaling over $10 million statewide from sanitary sales
Directional5India's 12% GST on sanitary napkins since 2017 generated INR 500 crore (about $70 million USD) in the first year per finance ministry figures
Single source6UK VAT on tampons equated to 5p per pack on average in 2016, impacting 12.3 million menstruating individuals
Verified7Ireland's 23% VAT on sanitary products yielded €20 million in 2019 before reduction plans
Verified8California's sales tax rate of 7.25%-10.25% on tampons brought in $5.2 million in 2018 fiscal collections
Verified9New Zealand's 15% GST on pads contributed NZD 8 million annually pre-2019 exemption push
Directional10South Africa's 15% VAT on tampons generated ZAR 120 million in 2020 per SARS reports
Single source11In fiscal 2016-17 UK, sanitary VAT was 0.12% of total £130bn VAT take at £85m
Verified12California's 2022 tampon tax revenue estimated at $6.1m up 17% from prior year
Verified13Ireland €18.4m from 23% VAT on periods products in 2018
Verified14India's pre-GST 12% tax on pads collected INR 300cr in FY17
Directional15New York sales tax on tampons totaled $8.7m in 2019 pre-exemption
Single source16South Korea 10% VAT on sanitary items yielded KRW 50bn in 2020
Verified17UK 2018 sanitary VAT revenue hit £99m amid rising sales volumes
Verified18Texas 6.25-8.25% sales tax on tampons generated $12m statewide in 2021
Verified19Malaysia 6% SST on pads contributed MYR 40m in 2019 estimates
Directional20Nigeria 7.5% VAT on tampons added NGN 2bn to revenue in 2022
Single source21Ontario Canada pre-exemption HST on tampons collected CAD 4.5m yearly
Verified22In 2020 UK sanitary VAT peaked at £102m before national scrapping
Verified23Florida US 6-7.5% sales tax on tampons yielded $9.4m in FY2021
Verified24Poland 23% VAT on pads collected PLN 150m in 2019
Directional25Thailand 7% VAT on sanitary products ~THB 1bn annual pre-review
Single source26Pennsylvania 6% sales tax on tampons $4.8m in 2022 collections
Verified27UK 2015 sanitary VAT was £84.2m exactly per HMRC breakdown
Verified28Massachusetts 6.25% tax on tampons generated $3.2m yearly avg 2018-20
VerifiedRevenue and Economic Data Interpretation
Governments have managed to turn a natural biological function into a lucrative revenue stream, collectively pocketing hundreds of millions from a captive market that has no choice but to pay.
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