There was a time when the cosmetic surgery industry was up in arms over a proposed %5 additional tax placed on BOTOX procedures. The good news is, lobbyists were able to get that removed from the health care bill that was recently passed. The bad news? Your trip to the tanning salon will be taxed instead.

Yep. According to the bill that passed near the end of March, starting in July 2010, tanning salons will be charged a 10% tax to provide such a service. This “Tan tax” is lumped into the “sin tax” category along with other vices like the cigarette tax and the proposed “soda tax.”

Don’t give up tanning just yet. This tax only applies to the electronic devices that use 1 or more UV lamps and that produce a wavelength of 200-400 nanometers. If they UV beds aren’t your scene, then breathe easier. The tan tax does not apply to spray on tans or any sunless tanning lotions.

Since this tax doesn’t begin until July 1st, you’ve got the rest of spring to hit the tanning beds. Once summer rolls around, by all means head out to the park or beach and soak up some sun for free. But, unless you live on the equator or in Southern California, you’ll have to find a winter alternative that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

It’s not the end of the road for this tax just yet. The bill is returning to the Senate for revisions. Several salons and others are rallying to get this “tan tax” taken out of the final bill. The biggest voice of the salon owners and their patrons is Joseph Levy, vice president of the International Smart Tan Network.