All families can enjoy savings with the sales tax holiday this weekend. Ohio consumers are exempt from paying state and local sales tax on clothing, footwear, school supplies and more.
The holiday starts on Friday, August 7 and ends on Sunday, August 9 at 11:59 p.m. Retailers must participate in the program, including ones that sell online goods to Ohio residents.
What is eligible?
Clothing, priced at $75 per item or less, school supplies priced at $20 per item or less, or school instruction material priced at $20 per item or less qualifies for the tax exemption.
What school supplies can I get?
According to the Ohio Department of Taxation website, the school supplies include “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; and writing tablets.”
Items used for trade or business would not qualify for the tax exemption.
What clothing qualifies for the tax savings?
“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; and 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 if I don’t have a child in school? Can I still save on items that qualify?
Yes, everyone can.
Items that do not qualify in 2026.
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.
Don’t forget the Diapers!
The holiday also includes baby items that can be purchased, such as cloth and disposable diapers.
Need more info? Here are some questions answered regarding the sales tax holiday from the Ohio Department of Taxation.
