DENVER – In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, the Denver City Council passed a measure that eliminates sales and use tax for feminine hygiene products purchased in the city of Denver.
The ordinance eliminates the 4.3 percent sales tax on menstrual pads and sanitary napkins, pantiliners, tampons, menstrual sponges, and menstrual cups. However, state, RTD and cultural facilities taxes will still be collected on those items.
A similar measure introduced in the state legislature in 2017 was postponed indefinitely. The Colorado bill would have eliminated the so-called “tampon tax” statewide and classified feminine hygiene products as a drug, medical or therapeutic devices.
A fiscal impact report generated for the 2017 bill said an estimated 1.5 million women in the state are of typical menstruating age and estimates each woman spends $60 a year on feminine hygiene products, generating about $2 in tax revenue for the state each year per person.
Denver’s ordinance will take effect July 1.