Tax free week is almost here in Connecticut. Learn when and how to shop.

Connecticut's annual sales tax free week is fast approaching, bringing summer deals perfect for back to school shopping.

The state has offered a week-long sales tax holiday since 2000, focusing on the sale of clothes and shoes. While the tax exemption used to apply only to clothing and footwear items between $50 and $300 dollars, Connecticut has since changed the rules to a $100 maximum and no set minimum.

The normal sales tax in Connecticut is 6.35%, with some exceptions for specialty goods.

Read below for everything you need to know about the tax holiday.

When is Connecticut's tax free week 2024?

This year, from Sunday, Aug. 18 to Saturday, Aug. 24, footwear and clothing items under $100 will be exempt from the state sales tax.

How to participate in CT tax free week

All you have to do is show up to your favorite stores. The sales tax holiday applies to both state and out-of-state retailers with stores in Connecticut, so you should not be taxed at any stores in the state.

Does the CT tax free weekend include online purchases?

The tax exemption also applies to purchases made online, on the phone or by mail, as long as the customer pays full price during the holiday period.

What does tax free week in CT include?

The sales tax exemption only applies to clothing and footwear under $100, including items such as dresses, jeans and sneakers.

According to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services website, clothing and footwear does not include:

• Special clothing or footwear designed solely for athletic or protective use
• Items carried on or about the body but not worn, such as:
  • Jewelry
  • Handbags
  • Luggage
  • Umbrellas
  • Wallets
  • Watches

For a full list of which items do and do not qualify for the sales tax holiday, see the Department of Revenue website .

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Other things to know about CT tax free week:

• There is no limit on the amount of items purchased, as long as each individual item is under $100.
• Items normally sold as a unit cannot be separated to qualify.
• Determination of whether an item qualifies will be made after all coupons, discounts and offers are applied. If an item that originally costs over $100 has a final sales price of under $100, that item will be exempt from sales tax.
• Items purchased with a rain check during tax free week will be taxable if paid for after the holiday ends.
• Deliveries for items paid for in full during tax free week may be made after the holiday ends.
• Items put on layaway during tax free week will not be taxable when the customer takes possession of the item. Items put on layaway before the week, but picked up during it, will still be taxed.
• Rentals that are taken out during the sales tax holiday are not taxable, no matter when they are returned. Rentals bought before the holiday and returned during it are still taxable.
• Exchanges for like items, such as two shirts of different sizes, will not be taxable after the holiday has ended. Exchanges for different types of items, or items bought with store credit from a refund, are not exempt from tax.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Tax free week is almost here in Connecticut. Learn when and how to shop.