Teeth Whitening Tax – America Gets Tough
America and Canada offer tax subsidies for some medical costs, but the federal government in Ottawa has said it will no longer subsidise vanity.
Teeth whitening procedures in Canada and America are seen as routine in the beauty regime of men and women – as routine as getting a haircut – and just as essential. In the States, having the perfect smile is as American as the constitution. And although cosmetic procedures and healthcare are private, the governments in Canada and America have offered tax cuts for cosmetic procedures including teeth whitening. But perhaps because of the global recession, things are changing. The 2010 budget administers in Ottawa for example administered a ‘sharp surgical cut’ to the medical expense tax credit that allows healthy patients to write off some of the costs of teeth whitening, liposuction and Botox.
Teeth Whitening Tax
Now Canadians will pay full whack for cosmetic procedures. The loop in the tax scheme was initially set up to allow those with a medical condition or injury who had unusual health or disability costs, could receive the tax credit. But those who took advantage of the tax credit for narcissistic reasons are thought to cost the government $40 million a year. Now, those looking for teeth whitening or any kind of cosmetic procedures will have to pay the full cost, although reconstructive procedures to correct deformities will still qualify for the tax credit.
Canada has seen a significant increase in demand for cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening; the biggest sectors looking for treatment are teenagers and, interestingly, older people looking to look younger to compete in an increasingly competitive workforce. Cosmetic procedures are increasingly acceptable for ‘the average Joe’ rather than just the rich and the famous.
Canada has seen a significant increase in demand for cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening; the biggest sectors looking for treatment are teenagers and, interestingly, older people looking to look younger to compete in an increasingly competitive workforce. Cosmetic procedures are increasingly acceptable for ‘the average Joe’ rather than just the rich and the famous.
Cosmetic Industry in America worth $10bn
In America, a cosmetic surgery tax has been proposed to help fund Barack Obama’s $1 trillion overhaul of the health care system. Teeth whitening is run of the mill in the USA and cosmetic procedures are considered normal and accessible, with around 12.1 million procedures being undertaken in 2009 (from breast enlargement to teeth whitening), spending $10.3 billion on the cosmetic industry. Teeth whitening is the most popular but Americans also underwent five million doses of Botox, with 307,230 women having breast enlargements and 245,138 people opting for liposuction and 121,653 having tummy tucks.
The cosmetic tax is intended to be a tax on the rich, with tax deductions staying in place for reconstructive surgery because of cancer or medical conditions. Critics have said that those who come forward for cosmetic procedures are not necessarily rich, but tend to be women who have scrimped and saved to get a treatment.
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