Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

01/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/13/2026 14:52

Consumer Protection Business Advisory: Trouble Making Change for Cash Payments? Round Down to Nearest 5 Cents.

Consumer Protection Business Advisory: Trouble Making Change for Cash Payments? Round Down to Nearest 5 Cents.

Businesses must accept cash, but national penny shortage may pose problem for businesses trying to make exact change.

1/13/2026

HARTFORD - The Department of Consumer Protection is advising businesses to round down the charge to the nearest five cents if they are unable to make exact change for consumers paying with cash, due to the national penny shortage.

Connecticut law requires retailers to accept cash as a valid payment method. The law also requires that a customer cannot be charged more for paying with cash than another method of payment.

For example:

  • If a customer's total is $19.97 and the customer cannot pay the exact total and the store cannot make exact change of 3 cents, the business should only charge the customer $19.95.
  • If a customer's total is $1.04 and the customer cannot pay the exact total and the store cannot make exact change of 1 cent, the business should only charge the customer $1.00.

Consumers who keep change jars can help by using those coins to make exact change when paying for a good or service with cash.

Consumers who would like to file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Protection can do so at CT.gov/DCP/Complaint.

Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Krasselt
[email protected]
(860) 713-6019 (office)
(860) 377-0246 (cell)

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection published this content on January 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 13, 2026 at 20:53 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]