Ceretto: State sales tax exemption on clothing, footwear 'much needed'

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, is pleased to announce that clothing and footwear sold for less than $55 per item will be exempt from the state's 4-percent sales tax starting Friday, April 1. Ceretto noted that the state sales tax exemption will be expanded to clothing and footwear sold for less than $110 per item beginning April 1, 2012.

"These sales tax exemptions provide much-needed tax relief to Western New York families and will be especially helpful for parents purchasing back-to-school clothing for their children," Ceretto said. "While it was unfortunate that lawmakers re-imposed this tax on working families in last year's budget, I am pleased that the tax increase is being gradually phased out. The beleaguered taxpayers of New York state need every tax break they can get."

The state's year-round 4-percent clothing and footwear sales tax exemption was first made permanent on March 1, 2000. Since that date, the exemption has been repealed and reinstated on several occasions. Assemblyman Ceretto is hopeful that, this time, the tax break will remain a permanent form of relief for Western New York families.

"These tax exemptions are not about promoting shopping sprees; they are about providing necessary relief to help struggling New York families purchase basic necessities," Ceretto said.