The House recently passed a bill that includes the repeal of the tax on indoor tanning services, a provision that was originally part of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The 10% excise tax on indoor tanning services was implemented in 2010 as a way to generate revenue to support the healthcare law. However, the tax has faced opposition from health organizations such as the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Medical Association, who argue that indoor tanning beds pose serious health risks, including an increased risk of skin cancer.
Despite previous repeal efforts in 2015 and 2018, the tax remained in place until now. The repeal is included in the “big, beautiful bill” passed by the House, but it still needs to be approved by the Senate. The tax was intended to discourage the use of indoor tanning beds, which have been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer. However, the tax has also had an impact on businesses, with many tanning salons closing their doors in recent years.
The repeal of the tax comes at a time when tanning behaviors are already shifting, with more people opting for self-applied sunless tanning products like lotions and sprays. Even celebrities like Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, who rose to fame on the reality show “Jersey Shore” for her tanned appearance, have embraced sunless tanning products. Snooki launched her own Sunless Tanning Collection after the tax on tanning services was implemented.
As the bill moves to the Senate for consideration, the fate of the tanning tax repeal remains uncertain. The tax has been a contentious issue, with supporters arguing that it has been effective in reducing the use of indoor tanning beds, while opponents claim it has hurt businesses. The Senate will need to weigh the potential health benefits of the tax against the economic impact on tanning salons before making a decision on whether to repeal it.
