Connecticut’s 2024 Sales Tax-Free Week

Get ready to shop without the additional sales tax! Connecticut’s sales tax-free week on select items will begin on Sunday, August 18 and go through Saturday, August 24. This much-anticipated event where shoppers can enjoy a break from the usual sales tax on certain items lines up with back-to-school shopping. Connecticut shoppers can save on essential goods from clothing to school supplies to electronics to home essentials.

The statewide sales tax is 6.35% for the retail sale, lease, or rental of most goods. During sales tax-free week, certain clothing items or footwear costing less than $100 are exempt from sales tax. All you have to do is show up to your favorite stores. The sales tax holiday applies to both state and out-of-state retailers with stores in Connecticut, so you should not be taxed at any stores in the state. The tax exemption also applies to purchases made online, on the phone or by mail, as long as the customer pays full price during the sales tax-free week.

Sales Tax Free Week promotes consumer spending, supports local businesses, and provides tangible savings to the community. This week provides immediate financial relief by eliminating the sales tax making back-to-school shopping more affordable. It helps families manage their budgets more effectively, especially during times of year when expenses typically increase. Additionally, this event stimulates local economies by boosting retail sales, as shoppers are more likely to spend when they can save on taxes.

For a full list of which items qualify for the sales tax holiday, you can visit the Department of Revenue’s website.

Posted by Michelle Rappaport

Connecticut Targets Credit Card Skimming Fraud

State officials sought Wednesday to help Connecticut consumers recognize the signs of card skimming fraud and highlighted efforts to thwart credit, debit, and EBT card skimmers at retailers across the state.

Skimmers are illegal devices, which thieves place on card readers attached to ATMs, gas pumps, and store check-out terminals. These devices are designed to steal sensitive information like card numbers and PINs and are often constructed to resemble legitimate card reader components.

However, consumers can protect themselves from this type of fraud by taking a few steps before using a card reader:

-Inspect the device for anything out of place. This might be unusual dimensions, mismatched colors or sticky residue on the keypad.

-Gently shake the card reader to see if any parts have been tampered with or improperly attached.

-Inspect the card slot for components that seem loose, altered or out-of-place.

Consumers who identify suspect card readers should alert authorities and use a different sales terminal. Connecticut residents can also protect themselves by taking additional steps including using contactless payment options like chip cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay; monitoring their accounts for suspicious activity; shielding keypads as they enter their PINs and changing their PINs often.

In a press release, Gov. Ned Lamont said state agencies were working together with law enforcement to combat card skimming scams in Connecticut.

“But it will require all of us remaining vigilant, learning the signs of a skimming device, sharing that information with our friends and family, and reporting any incidents to the police to bring this scam to an end,” Lamont said.

State Police Sergeant Luke Davis urged all residents to be alert to inconsistencies in the appearance of card-reading devices and avoid terminals that appear damaged or altered.

“Physically check the PIN pad and card slot of an ATM for security, as some scammers use an adhesive product when tampering with them,” Davis said. “Always obscure the view of the ATM or retail keypad so that your PIN stays private. In addition, when fueling a vehicle, use the pumps positioned closest to the building as they are least likely to be tampered with.”

Consumers can report suspected skimming devices to store managers or police and file complaints online with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection at ct.gov/DCP.

 Posted by Hugh McQuaid 

Report: CT a Leader in LGBTQIA+ Rights

Connecticut stands as a leader when it comes to the rights of the queer community, standing well ahead of many other states when it comes to the rights of LGBTQIA+ residents. With same-sex marriage legalized here seven years before its federal approval and enshrined rights for same-sex and queer parents, legal defenses and the transgender community, Connecticut can stand proud.

However, more can always be done. A recent report by DataHaven and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving found that the state’s queer community has priorities for further success in the future – these include expansion of youth-focused spaces safe for LGBTQIA+ individuals, making sure more voices are heard and, most prominently, improving access to housing and shelter throughout the state for those in need. Creating a more welcoming and accepting environment – even in a state where queer rights are enshrined – is vital for adults and children alike, especially to preserve the safety of queer youth, who are at increased odds of discrimination and can struggle under conditions where they are otherized.

While Connecticut is largely perceived as a safe haven for LGBTQIA+ people, especially transgender people – the report said Connecticut has a reputation where queer people move to Connecticut from states where fewer protections are in place – there is always more that can be done. Discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people, especially young ones who may be struggling, was a common feature in the report.

Finding work and housing can be challenging for a number of these individuals, and some groups within it struggle more than others; transgender people, as one example, face more discrimination and struggles than others. A third of all LGBTQIA+ people in Connecticut face difficulty paying expenses, which leapt to 47% for transgender individuals; food insecurity, lower incomes and households experiencing loss of work also were more common for transgender respondents than the general queer community.

Queer individuals in Connecticut are also significantly more likely to face mental health problems, primarily anxiety and depression, than cisgender straight individuals, with these conditions reported by 39% of queer people compared to 25% of the general population. This trend continues for other forms of medical care, with queer respondents missing medical care 2.1 times more than the general population and transgender ones 3.9 times more likely to miss such care. Discrimination was also more common for queer people in health care, police and employment interactions compared to the general public. Disability rates were also higher for queer and transgender groups than cisgender ones.

The report found that while Connecticut is a leader in queer rights in many respects, more work can and should be done. It found that the best responses to these issues is to find areas of improvement, including community outreach to those in need, supporting funding efforts aiding these groups and individuals and increased communication and effort to meet the needs of organizations serving the LGBTQIA+ community.

Posted by Joe O’Leary