Women in California are taxed $20 million annually for feminine hygiene products: Here’s what you need to know about the “tampon tax”

California assemblywoman Cristina Garcia proposed a bill to end the tampon tax this week. Tampons have been deemed “luxury” tax items in many places — even though women’s hygienic products are necessities. Yes, we know that women’s products cost more than men’s, but women in California pay $7 per month for 40 years in taxes on tampons and sanitary napkins, which is $20 million statewide annually, according to Garcia’s office. Watch for more on the worldwide movement to end the tampon tax.