House Republican Press Release

July 28, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. D’Amelio: Summer 2008 Sales-tax Free Week Set for August 17th through 23rd

Families, individuals, can save on Clothing, Footwear Costing Less than $300

Families and individuals planning to buy clothing, shoes or other footwear soon should wait until the week of Sunday, August 17^th through Saturday, August 23^rd to take advantage of the state’s annual sales tax-free holiday week, state Representative Anthony J. D’Amelio said today.

“If you are preparing to buy back to school clothes and shoes for your children, or to update your own wardrobe with new fall fashions, you can save money on those purchases by postponing them until the week of August 17^th through the 23^rd when you can take advantage of the exemption from the state’s six percent sales tax on clothing and footwear items costing less than $300,” said Representative D’Amelio, R-71^st District.

“With high gasoline and heating oil costs forcing most consumers to stretch their budgets and cut back on non-essential spending, the sales tax-free holiday week gives us an opportunity to save on clothing and footwear purchases that most of us will have to make sooner or later – especially if we are parents with children,” Representative D’Amelio said. “Everyone in my family will be taking advantage of the tax free week. It’s a great opportunity to outfit our families for fall and save some hard-earned dollars at the same time.”

The concept of a sales tax free week, which was modeled after a similar program pioneered in New York, was first introduced in August 1999 by Representative D’Amelio and other Republican legislators as a way of providing additional relief to families and individuals while making Connecticut more competitive with neighboring states.

Examples of clothing exempted from the sales tax during the tax-free holiday week are suits, sports jackets, jeans, dresses, blouses, shirts, shoes, sneakers, scarves, gloves, and belts.

Clothing or footwear items that do not qualify for the exemption include: special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use and which are not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it was designed.

Other purchases that do not qualify for the exemption include jewelry, neckties, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches.