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Connecticut Sales Tax Guide for Small Businesses

Everything you need to know about sales tax in Connecticut — rates, deadlines, exemptions, and how to stay compliant without the headache.

Last updated March 2026

Quick Facts

State Rate

6.35%

Avg. Combined

6.35%

Filing Frequency

Monthly, Quarterly, or Annual

Vendor Discount

No

Home Rule

No

Connecticut Sales Tax Rates

Connecticut's state sales tax rate is 6.35%. Connecticut does not levy additional local sales taxes, so the rate is the same statewide.

Filing Deadlines & Frequency

Filing Frequency

Monthly, Quarterly, or Annual — assigned by DRS based on tax liability

Due Dates

Last day of the month after the reporting period

File Online

Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS): https://portal.ct.gov/DRS

What's Taxable for Restaurants & Food Businesses

Prepared Food

Yes — prepared food and restaurant meals are taxable at the full 6.35% combined rate.

Grocery Food

Exempt from sales tax. Grocery food is exempt. Meals sold by restaurants, caterers, and eating establishments are taxed at 7.35% (meals tax rate).

Alcohol

Subject to sales tax plus a 7.35% meals tax rate when served at restaurants, plus separate excise taxes

Vendor Discount

Connecticut does not currently offer a vendor discount for timely filing.

Penalties for Late Filing

Late Filing Penalty

15% of tax due or $50, whichever is greater

Interest

1% per month on unpaid tax

Miss a deadline and Connecticutstarts charging penalties and interest immediately. That adds up fast on a busy restaurant's tax bill.

TaxAside's On-Time Guarantee covers up to $5,000 in penalties if we ever file late.

Calculate Your Connecticut Sales Tax

Connecticut Sales Tax Calculator
$
State tax (6.35%)$0.00
Est. local tax (0.00%)$0.00
Total tax (6.35%)$0.00
Total with tax$0.00

This calculator uses average combined rates. Your actual rate depends on your exact location.

Get your exact rate →

How TaxAside Helps in Connecticut

  • Daily set-asides mean no tax-day surprises. We pull, calculate, set aside, and file — you do nothing.
  • On-Time Guarantee covers up to $5,000 in penalties if we're ever late filing your Connecticut return.
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Related State Guides

New York

8.52% avg. combined

Massachusetts

6.25% avg. combined

Rhode Island

7.00% avg. combined

Tired of worrying about Connecticut sales tax?

Let TaxAside handle it. We connect to your POS, set aside the right amount every day, and file your return on time — guaranteed.

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5-minute setup. No credit card required.

Additional Notes

  • • Connecticut has a special 7.35% rate for meals and certain luxury items