IP 2002(24)

Connecticut Tax Tips for Senior Citizens

This publication has been superseded by IP 2003(32)

Purpose: This publication is designed to acquaint you with Connecticut taxes.  Information on income tax and sales and use taxes, as well as succession, gift, real estate conveyance, and local property taxes, is included in this publication.  To order forms or publications or to get help, see the Forms and Publications section at the end of this publication.

Part I.  Income Tax  

The Connecticut income tax applies to Connecticut residents, part-year residents, and nonresidents who have income from Connecticut sources. (To determine your residency status, see the Connecticut income tax instruction booklets.) The tax is computed on your Connecticut taxable income.

Income Tax Return: For calendar year filers, the Connecticut income tax return is due on or before April 15 of the next calendar year.  You may be required to file an income tax return even if you do not owe any tax.  Information on filing requirements is included in all Connecticut income tax instruction booklets.  Residents must file Form CT-1040, Connecticut Resident Income Tax Return, Form CT-1040EZ, Connecticut Resident EZ Income Tax Return, or Connecticut Telefile Tax Return. Nonresidents and part-year residents must file Form CT-1040NR/PY, Connecticut Nonresident or Part-Year Resident Income Tax Return.

Maximum exemption amounts are:

$12,000     married filing separately
For every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of Connecticut adjusted gross income over $24,000, the personal exemption amount is reduced by $1,000.

$12,500     single filers
For every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of Connecticut adjusted gross income over $25,000, the personal exemption amount is reduced by $1,000.

$19,000     head of household
For every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of Connecticut adjusted gross income over $38,000, the personal exemption amount is reduced by $1,000.

$24,000     married filing jointly
For every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of Connecticut adjusted gross income over $48,000, the personal exemption amount is reduced by $1,000.

Tax Rate: For the 2000 taxable year and thereafter, the tax rate is 3% on the first:

• $10,000 of Connecticut taxable income for single filers and married taxpayers filing separately;
• $16,000 of Connecticut taxable income for head of household filers; and 
• $20,000 of Connecticut taxable income for married taxpayers filing jointly.

The remaining income is taxed at 4.5%  (NOTE: the maximum rate was increased to 5% from 4.5% effective for taxable year 2003 and thereafter.)

Resident individuals may take a property tax credit against their Connecticut income tax liability for property taxes paid to a Connecticut political subdivision on a primary residence or on a privately owned or leased motor vehicle, or both.  Generally, this credit is allowed for property tax bills that were due and paid during 2002.

This includes any installment payments that you make during 2002 that were due in 2002 and any installments that you prepaid during 2002 that are due in 2003.  Supplemental property tax bills that were due during 2002 or 2003 also qualify if paid during 2002.  However, the late payment of any property tax bills or the payment of any interest, fees, or charges related to the property tax bill do not qualify for this credit.  The maximum credit allowed for the 2002 taxable year is $500 per return. 

If you paid more than $100 in property tax, you may be subject to a limitation based on your filing status and your Connecticut adjusted gross income. See Informational Publication 2002(25), Q & A: Income Tax Credit for Property Taxes Paid to a Connecticut Political Subdivision.

Computing Your Income Tax: The following example shows how to compute the income tax liability for the 2001 taxable year for a resident married couple filing jointly.  The tax is rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

Income Subject to Tax: Generally, income included in your federal adjusted gross income is subject to Connecticut income tax.  Income excluded from your federal adjusted gross income generally is not subject to Connecticut income tax.  For example, interest from Connecticut state or local bonds is not subject to federal or Connecticut income tax.  Likewise, the gain from the sale of your primary residence is subject to Connecticut income tax only to the extent that it is subject to federal income tax.

Modifications to Federal Adjusted Gross Income: Certain income is treated differently for Connecticut income tax purposes than it is for federal income tax purposes.  If you have such income, you must make modifications (additions or subtractions) to your federal adjusted gross income to compute your Connecticut adjusted gross income.  These modifications are explained fully in the instructions to Schedule 1, Form CT-1040, and Form CT-1040NR/PY. If you have income from U.S. government obligations, such as U.S. Savings Bonds or Treasury Notes, or income from bonds issued by another state, you must complete Schedule 1 to make the appropriate modification.   Remember: You generally cannot use Form CT-1040EZ or the Connecticut Telefile Tax Return if you are required to make a modification to federal adjusted gross income.  You must use Form CT-1040 or Form CT-1040NR/PY.

Security Benefit Adjustment: Social Security recipients who pay federal income tax on their benefits may be able to reduce the amount of benefits that are taxable for Connecticut income tax purposes by completing the Social Security Benefit Adjustment Worksheet included with Form CT-1040 or Form CT-1040NR/PY.

Estimated Income Tax Filing Requirements: You must make estimated Connecticut income tax payments if your Connecticut income tax (after tax credits) minus Connecticut income tax withheld is more than $500, and you expect your Connecticut income tax withheld to be less than your required annual payment.  Estimated payments are generally made in four equal installments: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.  If your income varies throughout the year, however, you may be able to reduce or eliminate the amount of one or more estimated payments by using the annualized installment method. See Informational Publication 99(35), Estimated Connecticut Income Taxes, and Informational Publication 99(33), A Guide to Calculating Your Annualized Estimated Income Tax Installments, for more information.

Withholding From Your Pension: If you are a resident and receive a pension, you may be able to have Connecticut income tax withheld from your pension payments.  Contact your pension payer and ask for Form CT-W4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments.  Retired federal civil service employees must contact the United States Office of Personnel Management (USOPM) to start, stop, or change Connecticut income tax withholding.  Call USOPM at 1-800-409-6528 to use the automated request system or 1-202-606-0500 to speak with a representative.

Part II.  Sales and Use Taxes

Some items and services that are not subject to sales or use taxes include:

• Clothing and footwear items costing under $75 each; Exemption was reduced to items costing less than $50 effective April 1, 2003;
• Clothing under $300 is nontaxable for one week per year.  Each year, from the third Sunday in August through the following Saturday, most items of clothing and footwear costing less than $300 each are not taxable;
• Current United States and Connecticut flags;
• Diabetic supplies (test strips and tablets, lancets and glucose monitoring equipment, and repair and replacement parts for such equipment);
• Doctor, dentist, medical laboratory, lawyer and travel agent fees;
• Eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, and hearing aid batteries;
• Most non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs for humans or animals that are used internally or externally.  This includes: vitamins or mineral concentrates; dietary supplements; natural or herbal medicines; laxatives; antidiarrheal medicines; analgesics; antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal medicines; antiseptics; astringents; anesthetics; steroidal medicines; anthelmintics; emetics and antiemetics; antacids; cough, cold, asthma, and allergy products; antihistamines; and eye, ear or nose medications (Cosmetics, dentifrices, mouthwash, shaving and hair care products, soaps, and deodorants are subject to the tax.);
• Adult diapers and disposable pads for incontinence;
• Support hose specially designed to aid in the circulation of blood, purchased by persons with a medical need for such hose;
• Oxygen and oxygen equipment, customized trusses and braces, crutches and wheelchairs, and repair and replacement parts for the equipment;
• Canes;
• Prescription drugs, syringes, and needles; 
• Repair services and repair and replacement parts for artificial limbs, artificial eyes, hearing aids, and other equipment used to support vital life functions; 
• Repair services and repair and replacement parts for crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and inclined stairway chairlifts;Telephone equipment designed exclusively for deaf or blind people;
• Closed circuit television equipment used as reading aids by visually impaired persons; Equipment for people with physical disabilities installed in motor vehicles and repair and replacement parts for such equipment;
• Electricity and gas for residential use;
• Fuel for residential heating or cooking such as oil, kerosene, wood, coal, and charcoal;
• Fabric, thread, buttons, zippers, trim, and similar materials for noncommercial sewing used to make clothing;
• Yarn for noncommercial use;
• Food purchased in supermarkets (Beer, wine, and all alcoholic beverages are taxable.   Candy, gum, soda, and all other carbonated beverages, including water in containers of 16 ounces or less, are also taxable.);
• Food products sold through coin-operated vending machines;
• Meals that are delivered to homes of elderly persons and that are provided by special programs, such as “Meals on Wheels”;
• Sales of food, meals, candy, confectionery, and beverages to persons in health care facilities. Health care facilities include assisted living facilities, senior centers, day care centers, hospitals, residential care homes, convalescent homes, nursing homes, and rest homes;
• Instruction classes, such as knitting, sewing, dog obedience, music, dance, etc.;
• Labor for many home repairs and services including plumbing, electrical, refuse removal, and septic cleaning services. The following renovation services to residential property are no longer subject to sales and use taxes: painting, staining, paving, roofing, wallpapering, siding, and exterior sheet metal work;
• Landscaping and horticulture services, window cleaning, and maintenance services when rendered at the residence of a person eligible to receive, and currently receiving, total disability benefits under the Social Security Act;
• Repair and maintenance services to vessels and fabrication labor to existing vessels;
• Other nontaxable services, including animal grooming and boarding services, laundry, hair styling, towing, real estate and jewelry appraisal; Effective April 1, 2003, health and athletic club services were subject to sales tax.
• Vegetable seeds;
• Bicycle helmets;
• Firearm safety devices;
• Shoe repair services;
• Personal property used in a burial or cremation with a value of up to $2,500;
• Caskets used for burial or cremation

Discounts: When a senior citizen discount or other discount is offered on a taxable item, the sales tax is applied to the discounted price.

Coupons: A coupon entitles a purchaser to an immediate reduction in the sales price of an item when the coupon is presented to a retailer.  No additional action is required of the purchaser. 

Sales and use taxes are calculated on the sales price after reducing the price by the value of any coupons presented.  Any additional value assigned by the retailer, such as to double or triple the coupon, is also excluded from the sales price.

For example, if the original price of an item is $3.00 and you present a coupon for 50 cents off the item, the taxable price is $2.50.  The total price of the item, including the sales tax, is $2.65.

In contrast, rebates do not reduce the taxable sales price of an item being purchased.  See Policy Statement 98(1.1), Sales Tax Treatment of Coupons, Scan Cards, Cash Equivalents, Promotional Items and Rebates, for additional information.

Use Tax: When the seller of goods or provider of taxable services does not collect the sales tax, you must pay use tax.  You must file a use tax return annually to report purchases of taxable goods or services on which Connecticut sales tax was not paid.

Typically, if you purchased goods from mail order or catalog companies and had the goods shipped to Connecticut or you purchased goods at out-of-state locations and brought those goods back into Connecticut you must pay Connecticut use tax if you did not pay Connecticut sales tax.  You must pay the use tax for purchases you made during the prior calendar year on either your Connecticut income tax return or on Form OP-186, Connecticut Individual Use Tax, on or before April 15.

Part III.  Succession Tax  

The Connecticut succession tax began to be phased out in 1997 and is scheduled for total repeal in 2006.   There is a total exemption from Connecticut succession tax if the entire estate passes to a surviving spouse.  For estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2001, any part of the net taxable estate passing to Class A beneficiaries will no longer be subject to the tax.  For a resident decedent's estate, the tax applies to all property, except for real property and tangible personal property located outside Connecticut.  For a nonresident decedent's estate, the tax applies only to real property and tangible personal property located in Connecticut. The tax rate depends on the relationship of the beneficiary to the decedent and the size of the estate.  For information and tax tables for estates of decedents dying after 1996, see Special Notice 2001(10), More 2001 Legislative Changes Affecting the Succession Tax.

Part IV.  Gift Tax

If you made a gift, you may be required to file federal Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, and Form CT-709, Connecticut Gift Tax Return.

Residents are taxed on all gifts of intangible property and on gifts of real property and tangible personal property located in Connecticut.  Nonresidents are taxed on gifts of real and tangible personal property located in Connecticut.

Gifts of a present interest to any particular donee during the calendar year are not subject to the Connecticut gift tax unless the value of all the gifts to the donee during the calendar year exceeds $11,000.  Transfers of future interests are not covered by the annual exclusion.

If both spouses are citizens or residents of the United States at the time of the gift, and both spouses consent and make an election for federal gift tax purposes, all gifts made to third parties during the calendar year, whether made by one spouse alone or made partly by each spouse, are considered as made one-half by each spouse.  Thus, the first $22,000 of gifts of a present interest in property to any donee by consenting spouses during the calendar year are not subject to tax.

To split the gift, the spouses must be legally married to each other at the time of the gift.  If they are divorced during the year, they still may split the gift as long as neither marries anyone else during the year.  In addition, both must be citizens or residents of the United States on the date of the gift.

The special valuation rules under I.R.C. §§2701 to 2704 (dealing with transfers to or for the benefit of family members) apply for Connecticut gift tax purposes. For example, if a donor delivers a deed transferring title to his home to his children but reserving a life use, the value of the gift equals the sum of the value of the life estate and the value of the remainder interest (that is, the full fair market value of the home).   Because this is a transfer of a future interest, no annual exclusion is allowed.

See Special Notice 2002(5), 2002 Legislation Affecting the Gift Tax, and the instruction booklet for Form CT-709 for more information.

Part V.  Real Estate Conveyance Tax

A state and municipal real estate conveyance tax is imposed on deeds conveying an interest in realty where the consideration for the interest in property equals or exceeds $2,000. A deed for no consideration or for less than $2,000 in consideration is exempt from this tax, but may be subject to the gift tax.  A deed of the principal residence of a person receiving property tax benefits for the elderly is exempt from the state tax but subject to the municipal tax.

Part VI.  Local Property Taxes

Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit: An annual property tax credit or rent rebate is available to residents age 65 or older, or to a surviving spouse age 50 or older, who meet certain residence and income requirements.  Regardless of age, a totally and permanently disabled person is also eligible.  Contact the assessor in your town or city hall for details and forms.

Veteran Exemption: A variable, annual tax exemption on the assessed value of an owner-occupied dwelling or on a motor vehicle is available to any qualified veteran or surviving spouse.  Contact the assessor in your town or city hall for details and forms for any of the above.

Effect on Other Documents: Informational Publication 2001(30) modifies and supersedes Informational Publication 2000(20), Connecticut Tax Tips for Senior Citizens.

Effect of This Document: An Informational Publication is a document issued by DRS that addresses frequently asked questions about a current position, policy, or practice, usually in a less technical question and answer format.

For Further Information: Please call the DRS Taxpayer Services Division during business hours,  Monday through Friday:

• 1-800-382-9463 (toll-free within Connecticut), or

•  860-297-5962 (from anywhere).

TTY, TDD, and Text Telephone users only may transmit inquiries 24 hours a day by calling 860-297-4911.

Forms and Publications: Forms and publications are available all day, seven days a week:

• Internet: Preview and download forms and publications from the DRS Web site; or
• Telephone: Call 860-297-4753 (from anywhere), or 1-800-382-9463 (toll-free within Connecticut), and select Option 2 from a touch-tone phone.