I don't usually make this many posts in one day, but I have spent the better part of today getting the word out about the proposed sales tax for massage therapy and other spa/salon or "pleasure" services. To encourage others to write to their own representatives as soon as possible, I am posting the letter I sent to Don Vaughn (and all of my other legislators) who is a senator for Guilford County.  Note that I have previously dealt with him when he was a Greensboro City Council Member and have referenced that in the last paragraph of my letter. If you have a positive tie to any of your representatives or senators, it can help to mention it in your letter.

Click here to search the representatives from your county. Please take the time to find yours and write them.

June 25, 2009

Senator Don Vaughn
NC Senate
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 622
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Dear Senator Vaughn -

I am writing to you concerning the proposal to add sales tax to massage therapy and salon/spa or “pleasure” services in NC. As a massage therapist, former spa owner and regular user of many of these services, I have a number of concerns about the proposed change that I think you should be aware of.

1)      Massage therapists are classified in the GS Chapter 90 as Licensed Healthcare Professionals. It is unfair to single out this group of health care professionals for this tax. As many massage therapists are employed by spas, salons, and other business that provide other “pleasure services” such as spray tanning and pedicures, it is imperative that all massage therapists and massage therapy services are exempt from the tax.

2)      Similarly, many services provided by estheticians (skin care specialists) and even nail technicians are for the health of the skin and nails. While some may claim these services are purely for vanity, I can attest to the validity of many of these treatments for improved skin conditions such as acne, rosecea, scarring and skin damage or nail issues such as cracking, splitting or severely dry skin. Some people would argue that these services as much as massage therapy and other alternative care methods improve the stress levels and relaxation response of the clients both of which are essential to overall health. And while I do not view hair care as either a pleasure service or healthcare, it is a vital service that everyone must use and should not fall under the tax.

3)      Aside from the specific classification of massage therapists and/or the validity of other skin and nail services in helping one’s overall health, I think it is vital to consider the heath of these types of businesses as well. With the state of the economy in NC in terms of unemployment, layoffs and overall financial instability in many industries and sectors, many service businesses are struggling to stay afloat or being forced to close up shop. I personally closed a spa in March of the year due to the problems that our area –and by extension our clients – had faced up to that point. Despite having a fairly well-heeled client base, our regulars were decreasing visits or not coming at all due to job losses or salary reductions in their own households. I had no other choice but to shut my doors and let my staff go.

In the last few weeks, I have also heard of several other small “pleasure” oriented businesses (several spas, a salon and a yoga studio – all which offered massage therapy) in Greensboro that have downsized, closed or will soon close as a result of the tough economic times. Adding a sales tax to these types of services and businesses will do nothing but put a greater strain on these professionals. I suspect in an effort to keep costs as low as possible for their clients, many will reduce prices to soften the blow to their clients. Still others will “eat” the tax by including it in their current prices and backing it out of the total cost. For businesses that are already struggling to stay open let alone make a profit, the addition of the proposed tax could be the final blow that shuts them down.

In summary, I request that you vote against adding a sales tax to massage therapy services regardless of the type of business in which they are performed. Additionally, I request that you vote against adding a state sales tax to other “pleasure services” provided in licensed spas and salons such as skin care, waxing, nail services, hair care and other spa or salon treatments.

If you have any questions about what I have written above or if I can be of help in any manner, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 336.508.0790 or email at Felicia@spalutions.com. As in our past dealings regarding massage therapy issues when you were on the Greensboro City Council, I greatly appreciate your willingness to listen to my thoughts and hope you will support my views by voting against the proposed sales tax measure.

Respectfully –

Felicia Brown, LMBT #798
Spa Consultant & Owner
Spalutions
523 State Street
Greensboro, NC 27405
www.spalutions.com