They’re Calling It “The Botax”

Thursday, November 19, 2009
By Amy Alkon

They're Calling It "The Botax"
Going in for new boobs and the like? The government is aiming to lift and separate you from your money -- taxing cosmetic surgery in the health care "reform" bill. From law prof William A. Jacobson, blogging at Legal Insurrection:

Harry Reid and his Democratic band of friends want to impose a 5% excise tax on all elective cosmetic surgeries (those which are not needed to repair deformaties or injuries caused by an accident or disfiguring disease). It's all in Section 9017 of Harry Reid's 2,074 page monstrosity released tonight:
There is hereby imposed on any cosmetic surgery and medical procedure a tax equal to 5 percent of the amount paid for such procedure (determined without regard to this section), whether paid by insurance or otherwise.

To where does the health care bill direct you for the definition of "cosmetic surgery"? To Section 213(d)(9)(B) of the IRS Code:

(B) Cosmetic surgery defined.-- For purposes of this paragraph, the term "cosmetic surgery" means any procedure which is directed at improving the patient's appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease.

That's 5% which falls mostly on women, who make up the bulk of cosmetic surgeries. Add 5% to every breast enlargement, nose job, face lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction.

But, no, Obama's not going to tax anybody making less than $250K -- not unless they have an ugly nose, a flat chest, or a lot of crow's feet.

via Insty

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One Response to “They’re Calling It “The Botax””

  1. Jack Dumas

    Sorry, but when you start complaining about taxes on cosmetic surgury to benefit society as a whole youy've lost your credibility. I used to read you back when you only gave relationship advice, but I must say, your polical commentaries are a dissapoinments. I guess the Peter principle is alive and well, despites the various report that it does not exit.

    #2936

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