What to know about tax-free week

If you need new clothes or shoes, now’s the time to get it, Connecticut.

Starting Sunday, purchases of clothing and footwear will be exempt from the state’s 6.35 percent sales tax thanks to a piece of emergency legislation from last month. The sales tax holiday goes until April 16.

The holiday only applies to “any article of clothing or footwear intended to be worn on or about the human body.” Each article needs to be less than $100 to qualify.

Gov. Ned Lamont signed the emergency legislation on March 24. The bill also suspended Connecticut’s gasoline tax and fares on public buses from April 1 to June 30. In an analysis by Hearst Connecticut Media, gas prices fell by an average of 24 cents a gallon after the tax repeal.

“With this bipartisan action, we are taking steps to provide some relief to consumers as they face rising prices due to a number of international dynamics and market instability that go far beyond our state,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “Connecticut is in a stronger fiscal position than ever before, and I am determined to use every tool available to provide relief for our residents.”

State Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, agreed that the legislation will help save money for residents.

“My colleagues and I are working to give our community a break after these past few weeks of increased pricing, including a second sales tax free week will help people save more money when buying new clothes for the warmer months ahead,” Moore said.

The state’s annual tax-free week on apparel usually takes place in August. However, unlike previous sales tax-free weeks, clothing and footwear designed for athletic activity or protective use, as well as wallets, will also be tax free this week.

Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, watches and similar items do not qualify and will have a sales tax.

The $100 threshold applies to items after cash discounts, coupon sales and other offers. For example, if a coat usually costs $120 but the buyer has a coupon for 25 percent off, he or she would not have to pay a sales tax on the purchase since the final price would be only $90.

Clothing or footwear rentals also are tax free if the rental is picked up during this week, according to a fact sheet from the Department of Revenue Services.