As the health care debate continues to shape out, lawmakers are again considering the so-called “Botox tax”. It’s a tax on all elective cosmetic surgeries including botox treatments. The tax is meant to help cover the nearly $1 trillion cost to the national health care plan the lawmakers are considering. However, there are some exemptions to the tax such as surgeries for abnormalities caused by congenital deformities, a disease, or personal injury. In other words, if you’re in an accident and need plastic surgery to correct an injury, it won’t be subject to the 5% tax. The bill reads:
(b) COSMETIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL PROCEDURE.-For purposes of this section, the term ‘cosmetic surgery and medical procedure’ means any cosmetic surgery (as defined in section 213(d)(9)(B)) or other similar procedure which-
”(1) is performed by a licensed medical professional, and
”(2) is not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.
”(c) PAYMENT OF TAX.-
”(1) IN GENERAL.-The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by the individual on whom the procedure is performed.
”(2) COLLECTION.-Every person receiving a payment for procedures on which a tax is imposed under subsection (a) shall collect the amount of the
tax from the individual on whom the procedure is performed and remit such tax quarterly to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as provided
by the Secretary.
”(3) SECONDARY LIABILITY.-Where any tax imposed by subsection (a) is not paid at the time payments for cosmetic surgery and medical procedures are made, then to the extent that such tax is not collected, such tax shall be paid by the person who performs the procedure.”.
Source: Politico
As the old saying goes, there are only two certainties in this life: death and taxes. You just never know what for these days.
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