2015 Sales and Use Tax Exemptions for Connecticut
Connecticut ushers in the New Year with a couple of new sales and use tax exemptions for the taxpayers.
Clothing
For all you shoppers out there looking for great deals on the latest fashion trends there is some good news. Clothing and footwear costing less than $50 per item (or pair) will be exempt from the fine state of Connecticut sales tax, effective July 1, 2015.
However please keep in mind readers, under the new law, clothing and footwear will not include the following:
- 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. (Alas, your kids’ cleats are taxable.)
- 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 the clothing intended for the sales tax exemption.
(Note: Although the exemption for articles of clothing
and footwear costing less than $50 will not be available
until July 1, 2015, the one-week exclusion for clothing
and footwear costing less than $300 per item from the
third Sunday in August through the following Saturday
remains in effect for 2014. )
And did you know that Connecticut offers an exemption for clothing during annual sales tax holidays?
Nonprescription drugs and medicines
Effective April 1, 2015, nonprescription drugs and medicines for use in or on the body are exempt from sales tax. This applies to the following:
- Any ear, eye, or nose medication.
- Vitamin and mineral concentrates
- Dietary supplements
- Natural or herbal drugs or medicine
- Cough, cold, asthma, allergy or antihistamine medicines
- Antacids, laxatives, antidiarrheal products and anesthetics
- Anthelmintics, emetics, and antiemetics
- Analgesics, antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and steroidal medicines
- Antiseptics and astringents
However the exemption does not apply to dentifrices, mouthwash, shaving and hair care products, soaps, deodorants and cosmetics.
Funny story, these same exemptions were made in 1999 but were subsequently removed in 2011. So don’t hold your breath as these exemptions might once again find it’s way out.
For help with tax returns and more questions about these new rules contact us.