Based on analysis by JPMorgan Chase and other studies, the "pink tax" refers to gender-based pricing where products and services marketed to women—such as toiletries, clothing, and dry cleaning—cost more than similar items for men. JPMorgan indicates this phenomenon costs women an average of $1,300 annually.
The "pink tax" refers to the higher prices often charged for products and services marketed towards women compared to similar items aimed at men. This phenomenon is not a formal tax but rather a pricing disparity observed in various consumer goods, including toiletries, clothing, and even personal services.
What is the “Pink Tax?” (and How to Avoid It)
Pinkflation reflects a disproportionate increase in the prices of goods intended for women, amplifying their consumption costs in times of inflation, with price differences of up to 46% for similar services. In the United States, the pink tax represents an average additional annual cost of $1,300 for women.
States that don't tax menstrual products
Delaware: Doesn't have sales tax. Menstrual products are tax-free. Iowa: Beginning January 1, 2023, Iowa will exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax. Louisiana: Eliminated the tax in 2021 — goes into effect on July 1, 2022.
The pink tax is the practice of making women's products more expensive than their male counterparts and charging more for nonessential products marketed specifically towards women, such as makeup and perfume. Especially with rising inflation, paying extreme amounts for basic items is unsustainable.
Here are the current states with the highest state taxes, including states with the highest top rates or flat rates:
Because the Attorney General has enforcement authority for violations of the “Pink Tax” law, it is critical that we hear from the public about potential violations of the law. If you have seen or been a victim of gender-based price differences that you believe violate the law, please file a complaint here.
Pink tax examples and impact in 2025
Higher cost and often smaller sizes of products like women's razors, shampoo, and deodorant, relative to the cost and size of similar personal hygiene products designed for men (e.g., when a pink razor costs more than a similar black or blue razor)
But in states with a "tampon tax" — a term that usually applies to tampons plus many other menstrual care products — these products are considered "luxury items." (Broader still is the so-called pink tax, which isn't an actual tax and refers to instances in which items marketed toward women, such as razors, deodorants ...
We thought Michigan residents might be interesting in learning how Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and several company insiders are using a legal tactic called a “grantor-retained annuity trust” to avoid paying hundreds of millions of dollars in estate and gift taxes on their Facebook shares.
The first study of the Pink Tax dates back to the 1990s. A 1994 report from California's Assembly Office found that 64% of stores in several major cities charged more to iron a woman's blouse than a man's button-up.
There are many reasons why the pink tax exists, including tariffs, product discrimination, and product differentiation.
Stop Paying the Pink Tax – What You Need to Know
Sometimes referred to as the “pink tax” or gender-specific pricing, a report in California (Opens in a new tab) demonstrated that women pay an average of $2,381 more per year for the same goods and services than men, which can add up to approximately $188,000 in additional expenses throughout a woman's life.
Gender-based price disparities are known as pink taxes. The pink tax has long imposed an economic burden on women—especially since women continue to earn less than men. The United Nations has called on countries to eliminate the pink tax to ensure women have full and equal access to economic participation.
New California 2023 Retail Law eliminates the 'Pink Tax' The bill ensures women achieve equality by prohibiting businesses from assigning different prices for identical products based on who they are marketed to.
Women are exploited by our economic system. The color pink has become synonymous with the anyone who identifies as a woman. Thus, the term the “Pink Tax”is correlated to this economic exploitation. Pink Tax: Women paying more for the same services and goods as men.
The best states for taxes are often those with no state income tax, like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. However, the "best" state depends on your personal situation, as some states compensate with higher sales or property taxes, so you must consider the overall tax burden, including income, property, and sales taxes, for a complete picture.
The use of menstrual care products goes back centuries: in ancient Greece, lint wrapped around wood was used as a tampon, and moss as well as buffalo skin were used as pads by Native Americans. In the 18th and 19th centuries, women in Europe used woven fabric or flannel to make homemade cloth pads.
A scenario not unlike the questioner's already happened once in American history. In fact, right at the beginning of the Republic. The government would starve for revenue and LOTS of things currently done by the government would STOP getting done, if nobody in America paid their taxes.