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Which Services Are Subject to Sales Tax in Connecticut?

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Which Services Are Subject to Sales Tax in Connecticut?

Taxable Services in the State of Connecticut

If You are Having Issues with the DRS
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Do I need to charge sales tax for my services?

One of the obligations when setting up a new business is registering your business with the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Business owners will then need to remit tax payments to the State through the online portal. The two most common taxes that business owners are responsible for remitting are 1) the entity tax and 2) quarterly sales tax. It is common knowledge that any business that sells goods (for example books, cars, clothing, etc.) needs to charge sales tax. What about businesses that offer services? What about Doctors, Repairmen, house keepers and dog walkers? Below is a list of taxable services in the State of Connecticut which should help business owners answer the common question: “Do I need to charge sales tax for my services?”

Your business must register for a Sales and Use Tax permit and remit sales tax on a quarterly basis if your business provides:

  • Advertising;
  • Business analysis and consulting;
  • Cable and satellite services;
  • Computer and data processing;
  • Contractor services;
  • Cosmetic medical procedures;
  • credit information and reporting;
  • Employment agencies;
  • Extermination services;
  • Flight instruction and chartering;
  • Furniture repair;
  • Health and athletic club services;
  • Intrastate transportation services (taxis, limos, etc.)
  • Janitorial services;
  • Landscaping and horticultural services;
  • Lobbying or political consulting;
  • Locksmith services;
  • Maintenance services on real property;
  • Manicure, pedicure and other nail services;
  • “Miscellaneous personal services” including Babysitting bureaus, Bartering services for individuals, Birth certificate agencies, Buyers’ clubs, Car title and tag services, Checkroom concessions or services, Coin-operated service machines, Comfort station operations, Consumer buying services, Dating services, Debt counseling to individuals, Depilatory salons, hair removal or hair waxing, Diet workshops, Escort services, Genealogical investigation services, Hair weaving or replacement services, Locker rental, Marriage bureaus, Massage parlors, Porter services, Quilting for individuals, Rest room operations, Scalp treatment services, Shopping services for individuals, Steam baths, Tanning salons, Tattoo parlors, Turkish baths, and/or Wedding chapels;
  • Mooring and storage;
  • Motor vehicle repairs;
  • Motor vehicle towing and road side service;
  • Packing and crating;
  • Painting and lettering;
  • Parking;
  • Personnel training;
  • Pet grooming, boarding and obedience training;
  • Photographic studio services;
  • Piped-in music for businesses or professional establishments;
  • Prepaid telephone calling;
  • Private  investigation, protection, patrol, watchman and armored car services;
  • Radio or television repair;
  • Refuse removal on commercial or industrial property;
  • Renovation or repair to commercial or industrial property;
  • Repair of electrical or electronic devices;
  • Repair or maintenance of personal property, or sale of warranties/guarantees to repair;
  • Sales agent for the sale of tangible personal property;
  • “Services to industrial or commercial real property” including management, repair, renovation, and/or voluntary evaluation, prevention, treatment, containment or removal of hazardous waste or contaminants;
  • Sign painting and lettering;
  • Spa services;
  • Stenographic services;
  • Storage and mooring of non-commercial vessels;
  • Storage space;
  • Swimming pool cleaning and maintenance;
  • Telecommunications services;
  • Telephone answering services;
  • Warranty and service contracts for tangible personal property; or
  • Window cleaning.

The above list is based on information obtained from the CT DRS website as of the date of this article (March 7, 2014). The laws governing the taxable services in Connecticut are constantly changing. There are also additional regulations imposed by the State on many industries. Therefore, any new business should seek the assistance of an experienced Connecticut business attorney to make sure they are fully compliant with State Tax as well as all other regulations of that business.

If you are being audited by the DRS, or if DRS is threatening to close down your business, contact our law office for a Free Consultation. We can discuss your issues and advise you on how we can help you or your business moving forward. You can contact us by phone 1-203-740-1400 to discuss your options.