House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

July 22, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

GREENWICH DELEGATION: REMINDS GREENWICH SHOPPERS OF SALES TAX FREE WEEK

 

GREENWICH- State Representatives Livvy Floren, Lile Gibbons and Dolly Powers are urging Greenwich residents to take advantage of Connecticut’s sales tax-free week from August 17th to 23rd, when the State's 6 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear costing up to $300 per item is eliminated. 

 

"This upcoming tax-free week provides working families another opportunity to increase their purchasing power as they shop for back-to-school items," Rep. Floren said.  "Not only does the program help working families by putting more than $30 million back into their pockets, but it also gives Connecticut merchants and retailers a welcome boost.

 

For this week only, the increased exemption replaces the $50 standard exemption for clothing and footwear.

 

This will be the sixth “Sales Tax Free Week” in Connecticut.  The state’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis has projected that the state will forgo about $3.3 million in sales tax revenues during the week.

 

"We have seen countless families take advantage of previous sales-tax free weeks, while also helping merchants particularly in border communities, like Greenwich, by keeping more shoppers here in Connecticut," Rep. Gibbons said. 

 

Rep. Dolly Powers said, “Shoppers can also take steps to maximize their savings on purchases.  Because sales tax is applied after the use of any coupons or discounts, if the final price is less than $300, the sale is exempt from taxes.  Layaways and rentals of clothing or footwear under $300 are also tax-free during the tax exclusion week.  For purchases costing $300 or more, sales tax is calculated on the full cost of the item.”

 

For answers to questions about the Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week for both consumers and retailers, the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) has posted details on its web site at www.ct.gov/drs.  The DRS web site also has links to other publications to help consumers understand the regular sales and use tax exemption on clothing and footwear.