House Republican Press Release

July 9, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

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

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

Families and individuals planning to buy clothing, shoes or other footwear within the next few weeks should wait until the week of Sunday, August 17 through Saturday, August 23^rd to make their purchases to take advantage of Connecticut’s annual ‘sales tax-free’ holiday, state Representative William A. Hamzy said today.

“Parents planning to purchase new back to school clothing and footwear for their children, or individuals who need to update their wardrobes for work should wait until the week of August 17^th through the 23^rd to take advantage of the exemption from the state’s six percent sales tax on clothing and footwear items costing less than $300,” said Representative Hamzy, R-78^th District.

“At a time when high gasoline prices are forcing most consumers to cut back on non-essential discretionary spending, the sales tax-free holiday week offers a great opportunity for consumers to save on purchases of clothing and footwear they may have been postponing,” Representative Hamzy said.

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 Hamzy 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.