Tanning Salon Tax & Regulation, in health care bill

[rambone]

People who run small tanning businesses, have much reason to fear. The Health Care bill contains taxes and regulations that will directly cost them many jobs and force them to close many salons.

For one thing the Federal Government is cutting out all of their customers who are under 18 years old, making it now illegal for 'minors' to use tanning beds. So tanning businesses are taking a hit directly from that law, losing lots of younger customers.

Secondly, the Federal Government is adding a 10% tax on tanning equipment, which will cause tanning packages to get quite a bit more expensive. More expensive services means even less customers, and less frequent customers.

So you can expect to see a lot more small businesses directly taxed out of existence under the new bill. But at least they will get free services after their industry is destroyed, right?

Health care bill imposes 10% tax on tanning salon customers

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Obama administration is turning up the heat on tanning salons across the country with the passage of its new health care bill.

To help fund the $940 billion health care overhaul, a 10% tax on individuals receiving indoor tanning services was tacked on, and the initiative is expected to generate $2.7 billion over ten years.

As a result, many salon goers and owners are outraged by the so-called "tanning tax" and think they're being unfairly targeted by the bill.

"It's terrible," said Jan Meshon, owner of City Sun Tanning in New York City. "You know how they say that passing a bill is a bit like making sausage? Well this was the weirdest, ugliest piece of sausage to get stuffed into the bill."

City Sun Tanning customers are shocked and disappointed by the tax as well, and Meshon said he expects the tax to hurt business.

"We'll do everything to keep our customers, but they are very upset by this," he said. "When they first hear about the tax, their reaction is, 'What? How did that get in there? Why are they attacking me?'"

Meshon said the average customer spends about $15 to $20 per visit, and a typical tanning session lasts about 10 minutes, which is roughly the equivalent of thirty minutes in natural sunlight.

"An extra 10% on top of that is definitely not helpful," he said. "All of our customers would like to spend less already."


What health care reform means for your business
Adrienne Zarisky, a regular tanner, said she has used tanning salons several times a week for the last two years in order to maintain sufficient levels of Vitamin D.

"I use it not so much for the cosmetic effect as I do for my health," she said. "But of course, in the dead of winter it just feels so good."

Zarisky said she probably won't change her tanning habits because it's still "cheaper than having to take sunny vacations three times a year," but she is sure the tax will cause financially-strapped tanners to give up bronzing, and in turn, will seriously hurt the salons.

"I really fear for the salon owners," she said. "The place I go has really been a fixture in my neighborhood. I got to know some of the people that work there and they're lovely people -- I would just really hate to see people like that lose their jobs."

Jobs on the line
The tanning tax will go into effect July 1 and will apply to electronic products designed for tanning that use one or more ultraviolet lamps with wavelengths between 200 and 400 nanometers. Other sunless tanning options such as spray tans and tanning lotions are not included in the tax.

"This is going to close tanning salons," said Joseph Levy, vice president of the International Smart Tan Network, which has 3,000 member salons. "You can't just pass on a tax like this to customers and not have it hurt your bottom line."

Levy estimates that about 9,000 jobs are in jeopardy and more than 1,000 salons are at risk of being forced to close their doors. The tax also targets middle-class and female business owners, with about two-thirds of tanning salons in the U.S. owned by women, he said.

In addition to putting thousands of employees out of work, Levy predicts the tax will ultimately generate 40% to 50% less than the projected $2.7 billion.

"There was no due diligence done on how much money this will raise, and it's going to be nowhere near what they are expecting," he said. "After taxing female entrepreneurs and primarily female customers, this is the other part of what's so repulsive about this tax."

The health care reform bill is returning to the Senate for revisions, and Levy is rallying support to nix the tax from the measure before it's too late.

"We have more than 200,000 signed letters to Congress between our businesses and customers," he said. "We're hopeful that the Senate and Senators we've talked to will come through and get this ridiculous tax out of the bill."

As another last ditch attempt to remove the tax, the Indoor Tanning Association has started a Web site, Stopthetantax.com, where tanning salon owners and customers can send personalized letters of opposition directly to state representatives and senators.

 

[mettle]

People who run small tanning businesses, have much reason to fear. The Health Care bill contains taxes and regulations that will directly cost them many jobs and force them to close many salons.

For one thing the Federal Government is cutting out all of their customers who are under 18 years old, making it now illegal for 'minors' to use tanning beds. So tanning businesses are taking a hit directly from that law, losing lots of younger customers.

Secondly, the Federal Government is adding a 10% tax on tanning equipment, which will cause tanning packages to get quite a bit more expensive. More expensive services means even less customers, and less frequent customers.

So you can expect to see a lot more small businesses directly taxed out of existence under the new bill. But at least they will get free services after their industry is destroyed, right?

My parents own a tanning business. My dad says they've already done the figuring and they'll be paying at LEAST $10K in extra taxes next b/c of this bill. That is on top of the huge unemployment hike he's already paying as well.

He is considering closing the business. He is tired of being punished by the town council (bringing Walmart for revenue) and the .gov for owning a business and being an entrepreneur.

The wave of stupid, and stupid people flocking to Walmart has cost them many many dollars in photo developing, movie rentals etc.

You can't fix stupid...

 

[rambone]

My parents own a tanning business. My dad says they've already done the figuring and they'll be paying at LEAST $10K in extra taxes next b/c of this bill. That is on top of the huge unemployment hike he's already paying as well.

He is considering closing the business. He is tired of being punished by the town council (bringing Walmart for revenue) and the .gov for owning a business and being an entrepreneur.

Sorry your family will be one of the direct victims of this. We are all going to be raliroaded by this law in some form or another.

 

[AFA1CY]

They were going to tax Botox but Nancy Pelosi axed that proposel.


I can't imagine why....


Not like she uses it....

 

[chraland51]

The bammer and his minions have to totally destroy this country and bring it to its knees before it can be reshaped and rebuilt in the way that he and his commie/socialist friends want it to be. He is out to destroy the middle class. I think that he is really a racist who hates the fact that he is half white, but is considered to be black. Have no fears, however, his naivete and his political correctness will allow his radical moslem buddies free run of this country to blow up whatever they want. Then he will declare martial law and totally take over control of every facet of our lives. Just to insure his power will last, he will allow 30 million illegal mexicans to become citizens who will vote for the political party that promises them the most handouts. He just keeps chip, chip chipping away. Every day you learn of a new attack upon our society, our ethics and our morals. I really worry about my grandchildren. I just hope that I am all wrong and all wet. Just my two cents.

 

[E5RANGER375]

i shoot straiter than the mexican illegals can!!! so i hope they arent the new army, lol

 

[T-rav]

The thing Im wondering is how much more of this is America gonna take before we finally put REAL people that understand The Constitution and LOVE Not a single current politician is getting support from me. I have talked with most of the people that represent me that are newbies tothe game. Its time for a game changer.

 

[Bisley Man]

The more citizens find out what's REALLY in this "HELLthcare" bill the more they will regret it.10'000 MORE IRS agents to harass us,Tanning Salon taxes... it goes on and on. I read in the paper that Pres. B. O. told the GOP to "go for it", to repeal this bill. You know the Dems. WILL make a big issue that the GOP wants people to suffer.(as usual)The concerns of pre-existing conditions, uninsured,etc. COULD have been dealt with without a 2700 page monstrosity of a law(S),but then, like many of you, I believe the WHOLE POINT of this bill is a NAKED POWER Grab!

 

[JohnR]

The tanning tax is racism!

 

[remymartin]

The tanning tax is racism!

Beat me to it. LOL

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Have ideas and good head on my shoulders, will travel. I'm just looking for that leader to start the push back.

The thing Im wondering is how much more of this is America gonna take before we finally put REAL people that understand The Constitution and LOVE Not a single current politician is getting support from me. I have talked with most of the people that represent me that are newbies tothe game. Its time for a game changer.

Not to mention the females that I know throwing a fit yesterday once they realized they would be spending more money to tan. I tried to tell them, they just didn't care enough to worry about it until after the fact.

 

[redneckmedic]

The tanning tax is racism!

They were going to tax Botox but Nancy Pelosi axed that proposel.

And the Botox Tax is Sexist!