"Medical Excise Tax on Retail Receipts
The 2.3% Medical Excise Tax that began on January 1st is supposed to be "hidden" from the consumer, but it's been brought to the public's attention by hunting and fishing store, Cabela's, who have refused to hide it and are showing it as a separate line item tax on their receipts.
Q1. What is the medical device excise tax?
A1. Section 4191 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an excise tax on the sale of certain medical devices by the manufacturer or importer of the device.
Q2. When does the tax go into effect?
A2. The tax applies to sales of taxable medical devices after Dec. 31, 2012.
Q3. How much is the tax?
A3. The tax is 2.3 percent of the sale price of the taxable medical device.
See Chapter 5 of IRS Publication 510, Excise Taxes, and Notice 2012-77 for additional information on the determination of sale price.
IRS.gov <
http://irs.gov/> Chapter Five
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p510/ch05.html<
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p510/ch05.html>
So being more curious I clicked on "Chapter 5 of IRS Publication 510."
And what do I find "MEDICAL DEVICES" under------"MANUFACTURERS TAXES"?
The following discussion of manufacturers taxes applies to the tax on:
Sport fishing equipment;
Fishing rods and fishing poles;
Electric outboard motors;
Fishing tackle boxes;
Bows, quivers, broadheads, and points;
Arrow shafts;
Coal;
Taxable tires;
Gas guzzler automobiles; and
Vaccines.
IRS.gov <
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p510.pdf