The Ohio Sales Tax Holiday is August 7 through August 9, 2026. Enjoy a weekend of tax-free shopping on clothes and school supplies!
The Ohio Sales Tax Holiday is an event where Ohio sets aside at least three days each year for consumers to buy specific items without sales tax. This holiday helps families purchase clothing, supplies, and other items their children may need to be successful in the coming school year.
In 2026, Ohio will host the standard back-to-school sales tax holiday, starting 12:00 a.m. Friday, August 7th until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 9th. Below, residents can find pointers to help them navigate the rules and save money.
Back to School with PBS offers printable checklists and planners to get in the back-to-school mindset, tips for creating daily routines, and more for back-to-school.
The Better Business Bureau offers plenty of tips to help with back-to-school shopping.
Related Article: Get free backpacks and other supplies for the school year with these back-to-school giveaways.
Shop Cincinnati Black-owned clothing stores to shop during the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday.
Cincinnati residents can shop at plenty of Black-owned retail stores during the Sales Tax Holiday. Shop now at these Black-owned apparel retail businesses. Find tops, workwear, denim, outerwear, hoodies/sweatshirts, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday?
Starting in 2024, Am. Sub. HB 33 provides for a sales tax holiday of at least three days, including the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of August each year, if a budget surplus exists. In 2026, Ohio will host the standard back-to-school sales tax holiday of three days, starting 12:00 a.m. Friday, August 7th until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 9th.
What items are exempt (free from tax)?
The exemption will apply to all items of clothing priced at $75 or less, school supplies priced at $20 or less, and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less.
What clothing items are exempt (free from sales tax)?
“Clothing” means all human wearing apparel suitable for general use.
“Clothing” includes, but is not limited to:
- aprons – household and shop
- athletic supporters
- baby receiving blankets
- bathing suits and caps
- beach capes and coats
- belts and suspenders
- boots
- coats and jackets
- costumes
- diapers, children and adult, including disposable diapers
- earmuffs
- footlets
- formal wear
- garters and garter belts
- girdles
- gloves and mittens for general use
- hats and caps
- hosiery
- insoles for shoes
- lab coats
- neckties
- overshoes
- pantyhose
- rainwear
- rubber pants
- sandals
- scarves
- shoes and shoe laces
- slippers
- sneakers
- socks and stockings
- steel-toed shoes
- underwear
- uniforms, athletic and nonathletic
- wedding apparel
“Clothing” does not include items purchased for use in a trade or business; clothing accessories or equipment; protective equipment; sports or recreational equipment; belt buckles sold separately; costume masks sold separately; patches and emblems sold separately; sewing equipment and supplies including, but not limited to, knitting needles, patterns, pins, scissors, sewing machines, sewing needles, tape measures, and thimbles; and sewing materials that become part of “clothing” including, but not limited to, buttons, fabric, lace, thread, yarn, and zippers.
What school items are exempt (free from sales tax)?
“School supplies” means items commonly used by a student in a course of study.
“School supplies” includes only the following items:
- binders
- book bags
- calculators
- cellophane tape
- blackboard chalk
- compasses
- composition books
- crayons
- erasers
- folders, expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
- glue, paste, and paste sticks
- highlighters
- index cards
- index card boxes
- legal pads
- lunch boxes
- markers
- notebooks
- paper, loose-leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
- pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
- pencil sharpeners
- pencils
- pens
- protractors
- rulers
- scissors
- writing tablets
“School supplies” does not include any item purchased for use in a trade or business.
Related Article: Thrift, Consignment, and Vintage Stores in Cincinnati
Can businesses choose not to participate?
No. Participation is required by law.
Can multiple items be purchased simultaneously and still be tax-exempt during the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday?
Multiple items can be purchased simultaneously and still be exempt from sales and the use of tax. Example: A customer buys two shirts, two pairs of pants, a pair of shoes, and a jacket (each costing $70, total $420). The whole $420 would be exempt since each item is less than or equal to $75. The price of the individual item is what makes it qualify.
What items DO NOT qualify for the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday?
In 2026, the sales tax holiday only applies to the above back-to-school items. It does not apply to clothing priced at $75.01 or more, school supplies priced at $20.01 or more, school instructional materials priced at $20.01 or more, food in restaurants, boats/watercrafts, titled outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, vape products, or items with marijuana. It also does not apply to any other tangible personal property, taxable services, and items purchased for use in business.
Can “Buy One, Get One Free” items qualify for the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday?
The total price of multiple items can’t be averaged to make both items qualify. The actual price paid for each item matters. Example: If you buy one item of clothing for $80 and get another free, you still pay tax on the $80 purchase since it exceeds $75.
During the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday, are online, mail, and telephone items/orders exempt (free from sales and tax)?
Qualified items sold by mail, telephone, e-mail, or Internet qualify if ordered and paid for during the sales tax holiday, even if delivered later outside the holiday.
Orders and payments made before the holiday do not qualify, even if delivered during the holiday.
If an item is backordered and the payment does not occur until a later shipment outside the holiday period, the item does not qualify.
Related Article: It’s never too early to look at college scholarships.
The intention of the sales tax holiday, recently made permanent by the Ohio legislature, is to boost sales while also giving taxpayers a break on back-to-school items such as pens, notebooks, jeans, and shoes. For more information, tips, questions, and a list of non-qualifying items, visit Ohio Sales Tax Holiday Frequently Asked Questions. In addition, you can also request more information through email or call 888-405-4039.
Article Information provided by the Ohio Department of Taxation.
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