Medtronic joins fellow medical device giants in forecasting lower 2013 medtech tax costs than previously anticipated.

Medical device maker Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) this week became the latest in a string of medtech giants who have pared back their expectations of the impact of the 2.3% medical device sales tax.

Medtronic chief financial officer Gary Ellis told investors during a conference call this morning that the medical device tax will likely cost the company around $20-$25 million for the 2013 fiscal year, about half what the company had previously projected.