House Republican Press Release

July 31, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. RYAN: ANNOUNCES BACK TO SCHOOL TAX SAVINGS

DARIEN – State Representative John J. Ryan (R-Darien and Rowayton) today reminded residents, tourists and college students of a state sales tax holidays taking place in Connecticut this year. Exemptions from the state’s six percent sales tax include clothing and college textbooks.

Rep. Ryan said, “The tax free week has been from all accounts been a success. Why not continue this popular program! Considering that there was a BILLION dollar surplus in our recently concluded fiscal year; and our regrettable status on the Tax Freedom Day calendar, this is the least the State can do for our consumers.”

• Connecticut shoppers will have one week to buy clothing and footwear items costing under $300 without paying Connecticut sales tax.  This year, the tax free week runs to from Sunday, August 19 through Saturday, August 25.  Throughout the year, clothes and shoes up to $50 are exempt.

• Sales of college textbooks to full-time and part-time students enrolled at institutions of higher education are exempt, with presentation of valid student identification cards. College textbooks means new or used books and workbooks required or recommended for courses. The exemption in effect since 2000 has been expanded to include sales to students at private occupational schools.

“People buying back to school clothing will not have to pay Connecticut’s six percent sales tax during the third week of August. Students returning to college face a high cost for textbooks. However, Connecticut tries to ease some of the burden by exempting textbooks from the six percent sales tax. This applies to both new and used textbooks, said Rep. Ryan.”

Rep. Ryan introduced a bill last session to add a second tax free week each year, the week of December eighteenth through December twenty-fourth. The bill was not included in the final compromise budget package.