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2026 Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week
The 2026 Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week will take place from Sunday, August 16th, through Saturday, August 22nd. This week provides a chance for families to save money, whether it is taking children back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.
During this week, sales or purchases of certain clothing or footwear items costing less than $300 per item are exempt from sales tax. This exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from online retailers. There are, however, certain items that are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax Free Week exemption. The following items are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax Free Week exemption:
- Any special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it was designed; and
- Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and similar items carried on or about the human body but not worn on the body in the manner characteristic of clothing.
- Click here for a list of items that ARE EXEMPT from sales tax and a list of items STILL TAXABLE.
This legislative session, we passed a state budget to expand eligibility during Sales Tax Free Week, making this the first year Sales Tax Free Week includes items such as clothing, shoes, and backpacks priced under $300, up from $100 in previous years.
Click here for more information on Connecticut's Sales Tax Free Week and frequently asked questions.
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Sales Tax Elimination of School Supplies
To help make the back-to-school process easy and more affordable for Connecticut families, as part of the budget passed during this year's legislative session, we voted to eliminate sales tax on school supplies items. Effective as of July 1, the state’s 6.35% sales tax no longer applies to non-electronic school supplies, including binders, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, highlighters, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, rulers, scissors, and more. This change does not impact supplies purchased by or for businesses, meaning companies that purchase these items must pay in one of two ways - at the time of purchase or as part of a future tax return. Click here to find more information about these changes.
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Connecticut Minimum Wage Increase
Connecticut’s minimum wage will adjust to $17.48 per hour beginning January 1, 2027—an increase from the 2026 rate of $16.94 per hour. The change is required under a state law Governor Lamont enacted in 2019 requiring the minimum wage to receive annual adjustments at the start of every calendar year based on economic indicators from the prior fiscal year. This law ensures that as the economy grows, the minimum wage grows with it. According to the Current Population Survey as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60% of minimum wage earners in Connecticut are women and people of color. Continuing forward under this law, Connecticut workers and employers can anticipate that announcements declaring the adjustment in the minimum wage that will become effective on January 1 of the approaching year will be made during the second half of each calendar year.
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Energize CT Efficiency Rebates & Incentives
Energize Connecticut is an initiative that empowers smart energy choices, now and in the future.
Energize Connecticut provides state consumers, businesses, and communities with the resources and information they need to make it easy to save energy and build a clean energy future for all.
If you're looking to replace your older oil or gas furnace and switch to a heat pump system, there are rebates and incentives available by clicking here.
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City of Bridgeport's Annual Backpack Giveaway
The City of Bridgeport’s Annual Backpack Giveaway is happening Saturday, August 15, from 10 AM –1 PM at the Margaret E. Morton Government Center. Backpacks will be distributed to Bridgeport students while supplies last.
Please note: Proof of Bridgeport residency is required. Your child must be present to receive a backpack, and there is a limit of one backpack per child.
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As always, please feel free to contact me at 800-842-8267 or by email at Andre.Baker@cga.ct.gov. And for news and legislative updates, please visit my official Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Andre Baker |
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