Connecticut's Tax-Free Shopping Week Starts Sunday

Attention all shoppers: Connecticut’s “Sales Tax Holiday” begins this Sunday, giving back-to-school and other shoppers a seven-day hiatus from paying the state sales tax on clothing and footwear — up to $300.

Tax free week this year will run from Sunday, Aug. 19, to Saturday, Aug. 25. It is sponsored by the state’s Department of Revenue Services, whose website has a comprehensive list of all the rules.

The weeklong tax "holiday" is geared toward back-to-school shopping and is intended to give parents a temporary break when buying their children’s school clothing. The program exempts the state’s sales tax on most clothing and footwear that costs under $300.

The one-week tax holiday applies to sales made in-state by Connecticut retailers, to online purchases, by out-of-state retailers who are required to collect sales and use tax from Connecticut customers, and “purchases by Connecticut customers on which they would otherwise be required to self-assess use tax,” the DOR website states.

Where do you do your back-to-school shopping? Tell us in our comments section.

There are restrictions to the tax holiday program. The tax exemption will not apply to accessories and jewelry, or clothing and footwear primarily designed and marketed for athletic use. The tax exclusion, however, can be applied to layaways on clothing and shoes made during the tax-free week.

Need some ideas for where to shop? Check out our amazing directory of local retailers featuring clothing and accessories.