[CASL-L] Sales tax on book fairs

[Ariel Wander]

I researched this a lot and spoke with the CT Department of Revenue. According to my research, schools may have 5 days of not charging sales tax each calendar year. These days do not need to be consecutive. So, if you have a 5 day long book fair in the spring and do not charge sales tax, you must charge sales tax on all other sales during the calendar year. If your school runs a two day fundraiser during which they sell things and do not charge sales tax and then you have a five day book fair, you would only be allowed to not charge sales tax on three days of the book fair (you would choose which three days). 

There is an exception for school staff purchasing items to be used for school purposes (not for personal purposes), as Follett indicated to you. 

The last time I looked into this issue, Scholastic was in a big lawsuit over not charging sales tax. Follett is trying to err on the side of caution, but really leaves it up to the school running the book fairs. When you ring up the sale, there is an option to remove the sales tax. 

I hope this helps. 
Ariel

Ariel Wander
Library Media Specialist 
West Haven Schools

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 6, 2020, at 11:41 PM, Audra Good <agood247 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> I have questions on whether you charge sales tax on books sold at book fairs? We never did with Scholastic but Follett said we have to and that only books taken for the library or school are tax exempt. I’d love to know how others handle it especially if you have used Follett? 
> 
> 
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