Connecticut’s sales tax system is fairly straightforward. The state has a base sales tax rate of 6.35%, which is applied uniformly across every city and county, with no local sales taxes. However, businesses that sell in Connecticut must be aware of product category rate exceptions, which affect everything from luxury goods to data processing services. They also need to stay up-to-date on economic nexus rules and their filing obligations.

Below, we’ll go over how the Connecticut sales tax rate works, collection obligations for out-of-state sellers, and what businesses must get right when classifying and filing.

Highlights

• Connecticut has a single statewide sales tax rate of 6.35%, with no local or county-level additions.

• Certain product categories, such as meals, luxury goods, and computer and data processing services, carry different rates.

• Out-of-state sellers must register and collect sales tax once they exceed the economic nexus threshold in Connecticut gross receipts in a calendar year.

What is the Connecticut sales tax rate?

Connecticut’s base sales tax rate is 6.35%. That’s the rate for most retail sales of tangible personal property, as well as for many services sold in the state.

Several categories break from that standard rate. Luxury goods (e.g., motor vehicles with sale prices above $50,000, jewelry above $5,000, clothing or footwear above $1,000 per item) are taxed at 7.75%. Meals sold at restaurants and through catering operations are taxed at 7.35%. Computer and data processing services carry a reduced sales tax rate of 1%.

How does Connecticut’s sales tax work?

Because Connecticut is a destination-based sales tax state, the sales tax rate on a given transaction is determined by where the buyer is located, rather than where the seller is based. This is relevant for remote sellers with buyers in the state. Stripe’s sales tax calculator can determine the correct tax rate based on the customer’s address.

What are the local sales taxes in Connecticut (CT)?

Connecticut has no local sales taxes. Cities, counties, and municipalities don’t add anything on top of the statewide rate. What the state sets is what your business charges, whether your customer is in Bridgeport, Greenwich, or a small town in Litchfield County.

2026 Connecticut sales tax range

Because there are no local additions, any deviation from the standard 6.35% rate is driven entirely by product category (e.g., 7.75% for certain luxury goods), not by where in Connecticut your customer happens to be.

What are Connecticut’s sales tax rates by city?

Since Connecticut has no local sales taxes, the combined rate in every city matches the statewide rate for whatever product category applies. The rate for most products is the standard 6.35%, but some goods and services qualify for a special rate, which can be higher or lower. So, whether a special sales tax rate applies is determined by what’s sold (e.g., meals, luxury goods), not where.

Looking at some of Connecticut’s major cities, here’s the combined sales tax rate that applies when a standard rate product is sold:

What are Connecticut’s sales tax rates by county?

Connecticut has eight counties, none of which levy their own sales tax. For standard rate products, the combined rate is 6.35% across Connecticut.

Which businesses must collect sales tax in Connecticut?

According to Connecticut’s economic nexus rules, out-of-state sellers must register and collect sales tax as soon as they exceed $100,000 in gross receipts and 200 transactions in Connecticut sales in the current or prior calendar year. At that point, they must register with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS), collect tax on Connecticut sales, and file returns.

Businesses with a physical nexus in Connecticut (e.g., a warehouse, office, employee, or inventory) have a sales tax obligation there regardless of revenue, as do businesses with an independent sales representative (i.e., an agent) who works in the state.

When and how should businesses file sales tax in Connecticut?

Businesses that operate in Connecticut and have a tax liability that exceeds $4,000 per year must file taxes monthly. Smaller businesses can file quarterly or, with special permission, annually. Returns are filed through the DRS myconneCT portal.

Connecticut is a member of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA), which provides businesses operating across certain states with standardized definitions, uniform exemption certificates, and simpler administrative requirements. Sellers who use certified automated systems can register through the Streamlined Sales Tax Registration System (SSTRS) rather than filing separate state registrations.

What do Connecticut’s sales tax rules mean for your business?

Connecticut’s sales tax rate structure is simple. But staying compliant still takes time and preparation.

Here are a few things to track:

• Know which rate tier applies to what you sell: If your catalog includes prepared food, software services, clothing over $1,000, or vehicles, you’re working with multiple rates.

• Actively track your economic nexus position: The $100,000 in gross receipts and 200 transactions threshold applies to both the current and prior calendar year. A business that crosses the line midyear has an obligation for the remainder of that year. Stripe Tax monitors sales volume across states and flags when you’re approaching nexus thresholds.

• Register before you collect: Connecticut requires DRS registration before a business charges customers sales tax.

• File on time: Connecticut’s monthly filing schedule means 12 deadlines every year for most businesses. Stripe Tax generates the records you need to file quickly and accurately.

How Stripe Tax can help

Stripe Tax reduces the complexity of tax compliance so you can focus on growing your business. Stripe Tax helps you monitor your obligations and alerts you when you exceed a sales tax registration threshold based on your Stripe transactions. In addition, it automatically calculates and collects sales tax, value-added tax (VAT), and goods and services tax (GST) on both physical and digital goods and services—in all US states and in more than 100 countries.

Start collecting taxes globally by adding a single line of code to your existing integration, clicking a button in the Dashboard, or using our powerful application programming interface (API).

Stripe Tax can help you:

• Understand where to register and collect taxes: See where you need to collect taxes based on your Stripe transactions. After you register, switch on tax collection in a new state or country in seconds. You can start collecting taxes by adding one line of code to your existing Stripe integration or add tax collection with the click of a button in the Stripe Dashboard.

• Register to pay tax: Let Stripe manage your global tax registrations and benefit from a simplified process that prefills application details—saving you time and simplifying compliance with local regulations.

• Automatically collect tax: Stripe Tax calculates and collects the right amount of tax owed, no matter what or where you sell. It supports hundreds of products and services and is up-to-date on tax rules and rate changes.

• Simplify filing: Stripe Tax seamlessly integrates with filing partners, so your global filings are accurate and timely. Let our partners manage your filings so you can focus on growing your business.

Learn more about Stripe Tax, or get started today.