This week, the state is offering a sales tax holiday week from Sunday, Aug. 18 through Saturday, Aug. 24, making things a little easier for shoppers.
“I’m looking forward to it. I know when it’s coming,” Farmington resident Lana Elder said.
“We’re trying to save where we can, so every little bit helps,” said Melissa Trofferter of North Branford.
This special exemption applies to most clothing and shoes purchased in-store or online.
Connecticut Tax Commissioner Mark Boughton said that if the items cost less than $100, you don’t have to pay sales tax, regardless of how many items are in your cart.
“What people forget is if you bring 15 items up to the counter and each one is worth less than $100, you don’t have to pay sales tax, even if the total is, say, $1,000,” Boughton said.
Eligible items include shoes, shirts, jackets, winter coats, etc. You can find the full list here, but be aware of excluded items as well.
This includes jewellery, handbags, luggage and watches, as well as specialised clothing and foot care products designed for sports, such as cleats, boots, gloves and goggles.
“I think it helps bring some excitement to the end of summer,” Boughton said, “and also helps put a few dollars back in people’s pockets for the upcoming back-to-school season.”
A family from North Branford did some back-to-school shopping at a Target in New Britain on Sunday morning to prepare their daughter for fourth grade.
“When school starts, it’s almost fall and we always get fall clothes for my daughter. She gets new shoes for school, gym, dance, whatever,” Troffatter said.
According to a June survey by the National Retail Federation, 68% of shoppers said they typically plan their back-to-school or college shopping to coincide with major sales events.
That was true for one family in Farmington.
“I try to wait for tax-free week to make any big purchases,” Elder said.
Elder said she was pleased to see prices a little cheaper at checkout this week.
“Especially as a teacher and parent, I realize I’m not only buying for my kids to get back to school, I’m buying for myself and my classroom,” Elder said.
Both of her children will be starting high school this year, so she said she’s making sure they have everything they need on their first day so they can start school.
“This is a big transition and you want to be prepared for a lot of things, so the tax-free week is a big help,” Elder said.
