The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received August 7, 2026.
Happy August! It’s hard to believe this hot, wet summer is halfway over, but before we know it, students will return to classrooms in coming weeks for another school year. Don’t let back-to-school hamper your late summer festivities, though; instead, thanks to legislators’ work this year, the state’s Sales Tax-Free Week will provide opportunities for significant savings for families across our region and state.
Since 2000, Connecticut has celebrated Sales Tax-Free Week during the third week of August, timed and themed to align with back-to-school shopping. During that period, which runs from Sunday, August 16, 2026 to Saturday, August 22, 2026, items of clothing and footwear worth up to $300 will be tax-free when purchased in stores and online.
This year has some significant updates to Sales Tax-Free Week, too. Legislators voted this year to expand the value of items included under the tax exemption from $100 per item to $300 per item, drastically increasing the number of products available under the tax exemption. They also expanded the products available with tax exemptions; backpacks and some cleated shoes, for example running shoes, are now included where they previously were not.
Another significant improvement: school supplies are now tax-exempt year-round, making it easier for families to save a few bucks in preparing for classes to start again. Under the new standard, there’s a permanent 0% sales tax on items bought for personal or student nonbusiness use like notebooks and binders, pens and pencils, glue, rulers, scissors, legal pads, lunch boxes and loose-leaf construction paper. Electronic school supplies are still tax-exempt, but these items’ exemptions will provide significant opportunities for state residents.
Some items are still not eligible under the sales tax exemption. Items costing more than $300 are not exempt, but if a sale reduces an item’s cost under that level, it may still qualify. Additionally, specialized athletic clothing or protective clothing worn for specific purposes, like football, golf and bowling shoes, martial arts attire, sports uniforms and specialty gloves are not eligible for the exemption. Handbags and purposes, wallets, umbrellas and jewelry are also items not included in Sales Tax-Free Week.
As Connecticut families prepare for their children to return to class, they’ll have new opportunities to save a few valuable dollars in the coming weeks, both during Sales Tax-Free Week for back-to-school clothes and year-round when it comes to stocking up on pencils and notebooks. I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful end of summer and a strong start to the school year.
State Sen. Norm Needleman, (D) Essex
