Back-to-school shopping is about to get a little cheaper.
Ohio’s annual sales tax holiday returns Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9, giving shoppers three days to buy qualifying school supplies, instructional materials, and clothing without paying state or local sales tax. The exemption begins at 12 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7 and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.
If last year’s tax-free weekend seemed a little different, that’s because it was. In 2024 and 2025, Ohio temporarily expanded the holiday to include many items priced under $500. This year, the state is returning to its traditional back-to-school format.
What qualifies during Ohio’s tax-free weekend?
During the holiday, you won’t pay sales tax on:
- Clothing priced at $75 or less per item
- School supplies priced at $20 or less per item
- School instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item
The key phrase is per item.
That means you can buy multiple qualifying items in one transaction, even if your total bill exceeds the price limits. For example, five shirts priced at $70 each would all qualify because each individual shirt costs less than $75.
What doesn’t qualify?
The exemption doesn’t 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
- Sports and recreational equipment
- Clothing accessories and protective equipment
- Most other retail purchases, including electronics, furniture, toys, and household goods
If an item costs even a penny over the limit, the entire purchase is taxable. Ohio does not allow partial exemptions. A $76 jacket, for example, doesn’t receive tax-free treatment on the first $75.
Does it apply online?
Yes.
Online orders qualify as long as they’re ordered and paid for during the sales tax holiday, even if they’re delivered after the weekend ends.
Store discounts, coupons, and loyalty rewards can also help an item qualify if they reduce the purchase price below the threshold.
How much can families save?
According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, the average family spends roughly $900 per child preparing for the new school year. State officials estimate families could save around $80 on a $1,000 shopping trip, and Ohioans are expected to save about $25 million statewide during the three-day holiday.
If you’re planning to stock up on school clothes, notebooks, backpacks, calculators, or other classroom essentials, it may be worth waiting until Aug. 7 to check out.
For more information, head over to tax.ohio.gov.
