Taxing Tanning Services
 

I was so relieved to hear this! It's not that I necessarily agree with the taxation of tanning services, but I would much rather have that than a plastic surgery tax. Thank goodness that was thrown out! That issue alone changed me from an Obama fan, to a critic.

I tanned during my college years but now I strongly advise against it, even if you don't burn. The evidence today points to all types of UV rays contributing to premature aging. A temporarily tan body or permanently damaged skin? Hmm, it's an easy choice :p

I used to tan too, but have stopped. A study recently found that tanning beds are even more dangerous than once believed. Check out the link below:

ACS :: Tanning Beds Pose Serious Cancer Risk, Agency Says

Great link :D

Yes, now it's so much easier to just do a spray tan ;)

Just don't end up looking like Valentino ... aka Señor Orange!

LOL so true! :D

I just received this in my e-mail from The Indoor Tanning Association:

"We thought we won a victory when the two Healthcare Reform Bills that passed the Congress last year stalled. However, today the White House released the outline of its latest proposal for Healthcare reform legislation. The new bill will include the Tan Tax!

HealthCare Reform -- Title IX. Revenue Provisions

Health Industry Fees

The Act will impose fees on various sectors of the health industry, intended to recapture some of the benefits they get as more Americans purchase health insurance. These include: (i) a fee on branded prescription drug pharmaceutical companies in proportion to their federal sales; (ii) an excise tax on medical devices; (iii) an annual fee on health insurance companies; and (iv) an excise tax on indoor tanning services.

Unfortunately, we must renew our email campaign telling the Congress and the White House to stop this regressive tax!

Use this link:

HealthCareReformBill

Call your Congressman, Call your Senators.

The letters for owner/employees and customers are still active and have been updated to address this new threat. Help spread the word!"

Although I no longer tan indoors due to the obvious and proven health risks, I believe those that choose to tan should not be subject to an additional tax. They already pay high rates for special beds, deluxe tanning lotions, and tanning accessories.

I also do not like the clause about those with medical devices getting taxed.

This is getting ridiculous!!!

Since most tanning salons are privately owned, I can't imagine this would be very enforceable. You would just see the owners do accounting tricks to hide sales (like saying X amount was spa purchases, not tanning) LOL!

Before they tax tanning, I would rather see them start taxing people for being fat. Now that is the #1 problem contributing to our medical costs. The effects of tanning on healthcare costs are trivial.

What about these "medical devices" they want to tax. What are they talking about exactly:confused:

It will be hard to keep track of, but legit salons are already developing systems to do so.

Medical devices include but are not limited to nebulizers, sleep apnea machines, blood pressure monitors, electrostimulatory devices, etc.

From The Indoor Tanning Association:

"Legislative Update - Tan Tax

Because little was accomplished at President Obama's Health Forum yesterday, it is now more likely than ever that the President and Congressional Democrats will forge ahead to pass some form of healthcare reform legislation without any Republican support.

The worst scenario for our industry would be for the House of Representatives to approve the Senate version of the bill, which passed the Senate last Christmas Eve and contains the Tan Tax. The President would woo reluctant Democrats in the House into passing the Senate bill with a promise to "fix" lingering issues through a "Budget Reconciliation" bill.

Under Senate rules, "Reconciliation" can not be filibustered and a simple Senate majority of 51 votes would be all that is required.

This week, an additional 14,000 emails were generated."