Map: State Sales Taxes and Clothing Exemptions

November 19, 2013

Liz Malm

, Liz Malm

One example of the many sales tax exemptions offered by states is an exemption for clothing. Eight states fully or partially exempt clothing in general. Clothing is fully exempt in Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Vermont. In three states, clothing up to a certain cap is exempt (in Massachusetts the cap is $175, in New York it’s $110, and in Rhode Island it’s $250). Connecticut will exempt clothing and footwear under $50 starting on June 1, 2015.

The 37 remaining states (plus D.C.) with a state sales tax include clothing in the tax base, subject to a few exceptions. Ideally, the sales tax should apply to all final retail goods and services – including clothing. Check out this week’s map to see where your state falls.

All maps and other graphics may be published and reposted with credit to the Tax Foundation.

Click on the map to enlarge it.

Previous coverage here.

View previous maps here.

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A tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities.

The tax base is the total amount of income, property, assets, consumption, transactions, or other economic activity subject to taxation by a tax authority. A narrow tax base is non-neutral and inefficient. A broad tax base reduces tax administration costs and allows more revenue to be raised at lower rates.

A sales tax is levied on retail sales of goods and services and, ideally, should apply to all final consumption with few exemptions. Many governments exempt goods like groceries; base broadening, such as including groceries, could keep rates lower. A sales tax should exempt business-to-business transactions which, when taxed, cause tax pyramiding.