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Connecticut's Tax-Free Week Just Tripled Its Price Cap — Here's What Actually Qualifies

Through Saturday, clothing and footwear under $300 are exempt from sales tax statewide, up from a $100 cap in past years. School supplies are newly included too.

Meridians Reviews Desk

Published 21 August 2026 · Updated 21 August 2026 · 3 min read

Connecticut's Tax-Free Week Just Tripled Its Price Cap — Here's What Actually QualifiesDeals
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The short answer

  • Connecticut's 27th annual Sales Tax Free Week runs Sunday, August 16 through Saturday, August 22, 2026 — it ends this weekend.
  • Clothing and footwear items priced under $300 each are exempt from the state's 6.35% sales tax, triple the $100-per-item cap used in prior years.
  • School supplies are newly exempt this year as well, on top of the usual clothing and footwear exemption.
  • The exemption applies per item, both in stores and online, regardless of where the retailer is located; athletic gear, jewelry, handbags and similar accessories stay taxable regardless of price.

Connecticut's Sales Tax Free Week is in its final days. The exemption runs through Saturday, August 22, and this year's version is worth more than usual: the state tripled the price cap on qualifying clothing and footwear.

What qualifies

  • Clothing and footwear items priced under $300 each — up from a $100 cap in previous years
  • Examples include shirts, dresses, jeans, shoes, hats, belts, sleepwear and swimsuits
  • School supplies, newly added to the exemption this year
  • Applies per item, whether purchased in-store or online, from any retailer regardless of location

What doesn't qualify

  • Clothing or footwear priced at $300 or more per item
  • Specialty athletic footwear such as ballet, bowling, golf or track shoes
  • Athletic supporters and other protective sports gear worn only for its intended purpose
  • Jewelry, handbags, wallets, luggage and umbrellas

Why it matters this year

This is Connecticut's 27th Sales Tax Free Week, run by the state Department of Revenue Services. Doubling or tripling the per-item cap means higher-priced items — a winter coat, a pair of boots — now qualify where they wouldn't have in past years.

Sources

Every factual claim above is traceable to these documents. Check them — that is why they are here.

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Meridians Reviews Desk is an editorial desk at Meridians, not an individual. A desk byline means the article was produced and fact-checked to that desk's published standards. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy.

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