COLUMBUS — Each year in early August, Ohioans get a break from paying tax on specific items, which especially benefits families with school-age children, college and higher-education students and teachers preparing to go back to school.

In Ohio, the tax-free weekend will always fall the first weekend in August. This year’s Sales Tax Holiday runs Friday, Aug. 4 at midnight to Sunday, Aug. 6 at 11:59 p.m.

What You Need To Know

  • Each year in early August, Ohioans get a break from paying tax on specific items

  • This year’s Sales Tax Holiday runs Friday, Aug. 4 at midnight through Sunday, Aug. 6 at 11:59 p.m.

  • Eligible items include clothes that cost $75 or less per item, and school supplies and instructional materials that are $20 or less per item

  • Items not exempt during the sales-tax holiday include clothes and gear used in a trade or business

During the Sales Tax Holiday, the following items are exempt from tax:

  • Clothing that costs $75 or less
  • School supplies priced at $20 or less per item
  • School instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item

The state defines clothing as “apparel suitable for general use,” listing shirts, sweaters, pants, underwear, socks, rain wear, coats and jackets, hats and caps, athletic and non-athletic uniforms and shoes.

In addition, diapers for children and adults are exempt from tax, as is wedding wear, as long as each item costs less than $75.

The state publishes a long list of school supplies that qualify as tax-free, ranging from pens, pencils, chalk, crayons, compasses and erasers to composition books, folders, copy paper, pencil sharpeners, scissors and school supply boxes.

There's no limit on how much can be spent in one transaciton as long as the individual items don’t exceed the established dollar figure — $75 per clothing item and $20 per school supplies and teaching materials. 

In other words, a family or individual shopper can purchase multiple items of “general use” clothing totaling $500 without paying tax, as long as each item costs less than $75.  

What’s more, eligible items purchased by mail, telephone or online are tax exempt as long as they are ordered and paid for, and the seller accepts the order, during the tax-holiday weekend hours, even if delivery is made after the exemption period.

Items not exempt during the sales-tax holiday include:

  • Clothing and gear used in a trade or business, such as goggles, hard hats and safety belts.
  • Equipment used in sports, like spiked shoes, ballet shoes, hand, elbow and shin guards, ski boots, wetsuits and fins.
  • Accessories such as barrettes, jewelry, sunglasses, wallets, watches and handbags.

Visit the Ohio Department of Taxation website to view a Q&A on Ohio’s upcoming Sales Tax Holiday weekend.

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