§130.311. Drugs, Medicines, Medical Appliances, and Grooming and Hygiene Products

a)         General.  With respect to prescription and nonprescription medicines, drugs, medical appliances, products classified as Class III medical devices by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are used for cancer treatment pursuant to a prescription, as well as any accessories and components related to those devices, modifications to a motor vehicle for the purpose of rendering it usable by a person with a disability, and insulin, blood sugar testing materials, syringes, and needles used by human diabetics, the tax is imposed at the rate of 1%. Beginning January 1, 2014, "prescription and nonprescription medicines and drugs" includes medical cannabis and medical cannabis infused products purchased from a registered dispensing organization under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act [410 ILCS 130].  [35 ILCS 120/2-10]  Medical cannabis, including medical cannabis infused products, sold by registered dispensing organization under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act, is subject to Retailers' Occupation Tax at the 1% rate, plus applicable local taxes. Cannabis paraphernalia is subject to Retailers' Occupation Tax at the general merchandise rate of 6.25%.  Grooming and hygiene products do not qualify for the 1% rate, regardless of whether the products make medicinal claims.  Grooming and hygiene products are taxed at the general merchandise rate of 6.25%.  [See 35 ILCS 120/2-10]

AGENCY NOTE:  Medical cannabis is subject to tax under both the Metro East Mass Transit District Retailers' Occupation Tax (as provided in 70 ILCS 3610/5.01) and the Regional Transportation Authority Retailers' Occupation Tax (taxed at the rate established for prescription and nonprescription medicines in Cook County and at the rate established for general merchandise in all other areas of the metropolitan region that are subject to the tax, as provided in 70 ILCS 3615/4.03).

 

b)         Beginning January 1, 2017 and through December 31, 2026, menstrual pads, tampons, and menstrual cups are exempt from the Retailers' Occupation Tax.  [35 ILCS 120/2-5(42)]  Menstrual pads (including pantiliners) are exempt even when the label indicates that those products are to be used as both menstrual products and incontinence products.  However, incontinence products that do not indicate on the label that they can also be used as menstrual products are not exempt. 

 

c)         Medicines and Drugs.  Except for grooming and hygiene products described in subsection (d), a medicine or drug is any pill, powder, potion, salve, or other preparation for human use that purports on the label to have medicinal qualities. Medicines prescribed by veterinarians for animals are subject to the high rate of tax.  A written claim on the label that a product is intended to cure or treat disease, illness, injury, or pain or to mitigate the symptoms of such disease, illness, injury, or pain constitutes a medicinal claim.

 

1)         Examples of medicinal claims that will qualify the product for the low rate of tax include, but are not limited to:

 

A)        "medicated";

 

B)        "heals (a medical condition)";

 

C)        "cures (a medical condition)";

 

D)        "for relief (of a medical condition)";

 

E)        "fights infection";

 

F)         "stops pain";

 

G)        "relief from poison ivy or poison oak";

 

H)        "relieves itching, cracking, burning";

 

I)         "a soaking aid for sprains and bruises";

 

J)         "relieves muscular aches and pains";

 

K)        "cures athlete's foot";

 

L)        "relieves skin irritation, chafing, heat rash, and diaper rash";

 

M)       "relief from the pain of sunburn"; and

 

N)        "soothes pain".

 

2)         The use of the terms "antiseptic", "antibacterial", or "kills germs" may or may not constitute a medicinal claim. 

 

A)        The use of these terms in conjunction with a claim that the product kills germs in general does not constitute a medicinal claim.

 

B)        However, a claim that a product is for use as an antiseptic to kill germs to prevent infection in cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and burns does constitute a medicinal claim. 

 

3)         Examples of claims that do not constitute medicinal claims include, but are not limited to:

 

A)        "cools";

 

B)        "absorbs wetness that can breed fungus";

 

C)        "deodorant" or "destroys odors";

 

D)        "moisturizes";

 

E)        "freshens breath";

 

F)         "antiperspirant";

 

G)        "sunscreen";

 

H)        "prevents"; and

 

I)         "protects".

 

d)         Grooming and Hygiene Products.  Beginning September 1, 2009, "nonprescription medicines and drugs" does not include grooming and hygiene products.  "Grooming and hygiene products" includes, but is not limited to, soaps and cleaning solutions, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, antiperspirants, and sun tan lotions and sun screens, unless those products are available by prescription only, regardless of whether the products meet the definition of "over-the-counter drugs".  "Over-the-counter drug" means a drug for human use that contains a label that identifies the product as a drug as required by 21 CFR 201.66.  The "over-the-counter drug" label includes a "Drug Facts" panel or a statement of the "active ingredient(s)" with a list of those ingredients contained in the compound, substance or preparation.  [35 ILCS 120/2-10]

 

1)         As a result, on or after September 1, 2009:

 

A)        nonprescription medicines and drugs that are grooming and hygiene products do not qualify for the 1% rate of tax for medicines and drugs under subsection (c).  Grooming and hygiene products do not qualify for the 1% rate, regardless of whether the products make medicinal claims or meet the definition of over-the-counter drugs.  Grooming and hygiene products are taxed at the general merchandise rate of 6.25%.

 

B)        products available only with a prescription are not "grooming and hygiene products".

 

2)         Examples of products that are grooming and hygiene products include, but are not limited to:

 

A)        all shampoos, hair conditioners, and hair care products;

 

B)        shaving creams or lotions;

 

C)        deodorants;

 

D)        moisturizers;

 

E)        breath spray;

 

F)         all condoms, with and without spermicide;

 

G)        baby diapers and adult diapers;

 

H)        baby powder;

 

I)         contact lens solutions;

 

J)         hand sanitizers;

 

K)        acne products;

 

L)        skin creams, lotions, ointments, and conditioners;

 

M)       foot powders;

 

N)        foot wear insoles that are intended to eliminate odor;

 

O)        feminine hygiene products such as feminine wipes, washes, powders and douches, but, beginning January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2026, the following feminine hygiene products are exempt from tax: tampons, menstrual pads, and menstrual cups (see Section 130.120(vv)); and

 

P)         lip balms.

 

3)         The following products are not grooming and hygiene products and may qualify for the 1% rate if they meet the requirements of subsection (c):

 

A)        hydrocortisone creams or ointments;

 

B)        anti-itch creams or ointments;

 

C)        vaginal creams or ointments;

 

D)        nasal sprays;

 

E)        eye drops;

 

F)         topical pain relievers;

 

G)        ice/heat creams;

 

H)        rubbing alcohol;

 

I)         denture creams or adhesives; and

 

J)         styptic pencils.

 

4)         Nonprescription medicines and drugs and products that are not grooming and hygiene products do not qualify for the 1% rate of tax unless they meet the requirements of subsection (c).

 

5)         Products that are taken orally and ingested, such as vitamins, supplements and weight gain or weight loss products, are not grooming and hygiene products.

 

e)         Medical Appliances:  A medical appliance is an item that is used to directly substitute for a malfunctioning part of the human body. 

 

1)         For purposes of this Section, an item that becomes part of the human body by substituting for any part of the body that is lost or diminished because of congenital defects, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease is considered a medical appliance.  Examples of medical appliances that will qualify the product for the low rate of tax include, but are not limited to:

 

A)        breast implants that restore breasts after removal due to cancer or for preventative, medical reasons;

 

B)        heart pacemakers;

 

C)        artificial limbs;

 

D)        dental prosthetics;

 

E)        crutches and orthopedic braces;

 

F)         dialysis machines (including the dialyzer);

 

G)        wheelchairs;

 

H)        mastectomy forms and bras;

 

I)         mobility scooters; and

 

J)         sleep apnea devices.

 

2)         Corrective medical appliances such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and orthodontic braces qualify as medical appliances subject to the low rate of tax.

 

3)         Sterile band-aids, dressings, bandages, and gauze qualify for the low rate because they serve as a substitute for skin.

 

4)         Items transferred incident to cosmetic procedures are not considered medical appliances.  For purposes of this Section, a cosmetic procedure means any procedure performed on an individual that is directed at improving the individual's appearance and that does not prevent or treat illness or disease, promote the proper function of the body or substitute for any part of the body that is lost or diminished because of congenital defects, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease.  Cosmetic procedures include, but are not limited to, elective breast, pectoral, or buttock augmentation. 

 

5)         Diagnostic equipment shall not be deemed to be a medical appliance, except as provided in Section 130.311(g).  Other medical tools, devices, and equipment such as x-ray machines, laboratory equipment, and surgical instruments that may be used in the treatment of patients but that do not directly substitute for a malfunctioning part of the human body do not qualify as medical appliances.  Sometimes a kit of items is sold where the purchaser will use the kit items to perform self-treatment.  The kit will contain paraphernalia and sometimes medicines.  An example is a kit sold for the removal of ear wax.  Because the paraphernalia hardware is for treatment, it generally does not qualify as a medical appliance.  However, the Department will consider the selling price of the entire kit to be taxable at the reduced rate when the value of the medicines in the kit is more than half of the total selling price of the kit.

 

6)         Supplies, such as cotton swabs, disposable diapers, toilet paper, tissues and towelettes and cosmetics, such as lipsticks, perfume, and hair tonics, do not qualify for the reduced rate.

 

7)         Medical appliances may be prescribed by licensed health care professionals for use by a patient, purchased by health care professionals for the use of patients or purchased directly by individuals.  Purchases of medical appliances by lessors that will be leased to others for human use also qualify for the reduced rate of tax.

 

f)         Certain Medical Devices.  Effective August 19, 2016, products classified as Class III medical devices by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are used for cancer treatment pursuant to a prescription, as well as any accessories and components related to those devices, qualify for the 1% rate of tax.  [35 ILCS 120/2-10]

 

g)         Insulin, blood sugar testing materials, syringes, and needles used by human diabetics, the tax is imposed at the rate of 1%. [35 ILCS 120/2-10] 

 

h)         Modifications Made to a Motor Vehicle for the Purpose of Rendering It Usable by a Person with a Disability

 

1)         Effective August 17, 1995, modifications made to a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 1-146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/1-146], for the purpose of rendering it usable by a person with a disability, qualify for the reduced rate of tax.  [35 ILCS 120/2-10]  The low rate applies to modifications that enable a person with a disability to drive a vehicle or that assist in the transportation of persons with disabilities.  Examples of such modifications include, but are not limited to, special steering, braking, shifting or acceleration equipment, or equipment that modifies the vehicle for accessibility, such as a chair lift. 

 

2)         For purposes of this subsection (h), the term "person with disabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 1-159.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/1-159.1].

 

i)          Reporting

 

1)         The retailer must keep an actual record of all sales and must report tax at the applicable rates, based on sales as reflected in the retailer's records.  Books and records must be maintained in sufficient detail so that all receipts reported with respect to drugs, medicines, and medical appliances can be supported.

 

2)         Suppliers that sell items to health professionals must collect tax based on the actual use of the items.  Health professionals that purchase items that may or may not qualify for the low rate, depending upon the ultimate use of the items by the health professionals, may provide their suppliers with certificates that identify the percentage of items being purchased that qualify for the low rate, i.e., that are purchased to be used to replace a malfunctioning part of the body.  (For example, cosmetic versus reconstructive procedures.)

 

A)        The certificate should contain the following information:

 

i)          the seller's name and address;

 

ii)         the purchaser's name and address;

 

iii)        a description of the medical appliances being purchased;

 

iv)        the percentage of the medical appliances being purchased that qualify for the low rate;

 

v)         the purchaser's signature or the signature of an authorized employee or agent of the purchaser and date of signing; and

 

vi)        if the purchaser is registered with the Department, the purchaser's Registration Number or Resale Number.

 

B)        A supplier that obtains a certificate from a health professional that complies with subsection (i)(2)(A) will not be liable for additional retailers' occupation tax in the event the actual percentage of items purchased by the health professional that qualify for the low rate is less than the percentage claimed in the certificate if it remitted retailers' occupation tax to the Department based on the information contained in the certificate received from the health professional.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 19349, effective December 12, 2023)