Fairfield Shoppers Cheer Tax-Free Week

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Hilary Lyne didn’t plan to shop for clothes Sunday afternoon. She was taking her dog Gidget out for a stroll along the Post Road in Fairfield when a sales rack caught her eye. But after finding out that Sunday began Connecticut’s annual tax-free shopping week, Lyne said she would have to hit the stores this week after all.

“It’s always a nice incentive to come to the shops in Fairfield and check out what the retailers have,” Lyne said. “And it’s good chance to feel like you’re getting a deal.”

From Aug. 21 to Aug. 27, Connecticut’s stores will not charge sales tax on all articles of clothing and footwear costing less than $300 each. The state Department of Revenue Services estimates that shoppers will save as much as $4.2 million total this week because of the exemption.

This summer, the one-week exemption is even more valuable because of changes to the state sales taxes that took effect July 1. This week’s tax-free shoppers will now save more money on each purchase, because the state raised its rate from 6 percent to 6.35 percent. This week’s exemptions also apply to even more items than before, because items costing less $50 will be tax-free again for the week.

The state government considered eliminating the week earlier this year to bring down Connecticut’s deficit. The legislature tried that in 2003, but the week proved so important to businesses that it returned the next summer. So state representatives decided to keep the exemption week intact.

“Our economy is obviously not yet back to full-strength, either in Connecticut, across the nation or around the globe,” said state Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. “I know sales-tax free week has become something of a tradition here in Connecticut, but giving people a break in this economy is even more important.”

Though many of Fairfield’s smaller shops were closed Sunday afternoon, the idea seemed to be working already. Fairfield shopper Ashley Steinfeld said she didn’t realize it was tax-free week until the clerk rang up her purchases at Apricot Lane. But she says she’ll be back before the exemption ends Saturday.

“Most likely I’ll buy more,” she said. “I just made my first purchase tax-free, and I’ll probably be back.”

Are you planning to take advantage of tax-free shopping this week? Tell us which stores you’ll be checking out in the comments below.

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