Michigan continues to work on eliminating taxes on necessary hygiene products. Following the elimination of the tampon tax, some local organizations and government officials hope that the tax on diapers is the next to go.
If the two bills proposed by Republican State Rep. Julie Alexander pass, Michigan residents will no longer have to pay sales or use taxes on adult and baby diapers. Alexander introduced house Bills 5611 and 5612 on Dec. 7, 2021.
These bills have been proposed under a similar philosophy as the exemption of the tampon tax that was passed in Nov. 2021. Prior to this legislation, there was a 6% sales tax on necessary menstrual products. According to Michigan.gov, the elimination of the tampon tax saves Michigan families up to $4,800 in taxes throughout a lifetime.
“The governor signing the feminine hygiene tax is what inspired me to do so,” Alexander said.
“When I saw that the legislature was willing to support the removal of the tax on feminine hygiene and the governor was willing to sign it, I thought we needed to be more inclusive for families of all ages.”
Michigan residents are currently charged 6% sales tax on diapers. Based on calculations by the National Diaper Bank Network, families spend up to $56 in taxes for a year’s worth of diapers (based on an average yearly spend on diapers of $936).
“When you look at the expense that the family pays on diapers, and the taxes that are paid, it really adds up quickly because diapers are expensive,” Alexander said.
Destiny Purpose and Community Outreach (DAPCO) is a nonprofit in Ypsilanti, Michigan. One of their many free services includes providing diapers, wipes, formula and other necessities for local families in need. DAPCO Executive Director Towana Parker interacts regularly with many single parents who need resources such as diapers to care for their babies.
“I would like it to be known that we appreciate anyone that fights for the causes of families,” Parker said. “I want to say ‘way to go’ Julie. Keep up the good work. All it takes is one person to be a game changer.”
Alexander said that the State department that she spoke with estimates the revenue loss to the state for baby diapers would be between 12 and 16 million dollars and five to eight million dollars for adult diapers.
She said she asked herself throughout the formation of this bill, “Would legislators or the governor get behind reducing our state income by that much and simply allowing that savings to go into a family’s pocket?”
Michigan is behind 36 other states who have already eliminated the diaper tax.
Some states such as North Dakota and Maryland tax baby diapers but not adult diapers.
The bills introduced by Alexander propose to exempt both baby and adult diapers in Michigan.
“We did some research to discover that as we have an aging population, we have more adult incontinence products being used and less baby diapers because we have less children being born,” Alexander said.
In some states, including New York, diapers lie under the exemption for clothing. In Massachusetts, all diapers are exempt because they are considered health care items. The legislation by Alexander exempts the diaper tax as an article of clothing.
Alexander said the bill was referred to the House Policy of Family, Children and Services. She expects that the process of a committee hearing will begin very soon.
“We’ll start the process by letting individuals come and speak in favor or against this legislation and allow this concept to have the due diligence and go through the process that it deserves,” Alexander said.
