Shoppers Rejoice! Conn. Tax Free Week Starts Sunday

Don't give in to that impulse purchase just yet.  If you wait until next week, you can save the state's 6% sales tax on clothing and footwear that costs less than $300.

The tax-exempt week begins on Sunday, August 15 and will continue through Saturday, August 21.

The tax holiday week began in 2000 and has been an August staple in the state ever since. The legislature considered doing away with it in 2006, but quickly reconsidered, and it has been in place ever since. The Department of Revenue Services oversees the program.

"There's no sunset on it," said Sarah Kaufman, Director of Communications for the Department of Revenue Services. " Every year we get calls starting about May from retailers confirming it's still there. We tell them it's not going away."

The shoppers' savings means less money for the state.  Kaufman said Connecticut expects to forego $3.5 million in revenue this year, slightly more than the $3.1 million shoppers saved last year.  That's just fine with her.

"The program is an overall benefit to the state," Kaufman said.  "It's spurring on the economy.  People have an opportunity to save money.  They take the savings from sales tax and they put it into other purchases."