Sawyer Celebrates Sales Tax Free Week
State Representative Pam Sawyer wants everyone to know that the ‘sales tax free week’ is BACK Sunday, August 21 through Saturday, August 27, 2011. During this week only, Connecticut shoppers will have one week to buy items of clothing and footwear costing under $300 without paying the state sales tax.
“As a mother, and now a grandmother, I know sometimes the back-to-school bills add up fast. It worried me that this much anticipated week was dangerously close to being eliminated forever,” said State Representative Pam Sawyer.
Prior to July 1st, when the state budget went into effect, clothing and footwear under $50 enjoyed a year-round exemption from the sales tax. This small tax exemption is particularly beneficial to middle-class and poor families who have children or teenagers in school.
“We have had some spending holes in the state government budget and so those in charge in Hartford took away the $50 clothing exemption. To add insult to injury, they made it effective right before the start of a new school year!” Sawyer said.
Original budget plans drawn up by Governor Malloy also included an elimination of the celebrated sales-tax holiday meant to provide families a little relief with all the back-to-school bills. Due to much public outcry and strong opposition, the sales tax free week was preserved.
“I opposed the new taxes and the elimination of the sales tax free week. I was part of a coalition that found many ways the government can save without raising taxes, just by being smart with our finances. But it was ignored. Directly targeting our middle-class and poor families with school children when the state government should be tightening its belt and spending less is just not the right road to go down,” said Sawyer.
The much celebrated sales-tax free week, Sawyer continued, also has the effect of boosting consumer confidence and spurring sales, which helps businesses keep jobs and grows our economy. “This sales tax free week is good for Connecticut families and good for Connecticut businesses. It’s a week to be enjoyed by all,” said Sawyer.
More information about the rules that apply to the sales tax free week are found in:
• One-Week Sales and Use Tax Exclusion in August for Clothing and Footwear Under $300
