Ohio’s annual sales tax holiday returns from Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 9, offering shoppers a three-day window to purchase qualifying school supplies, instructional materials, and clothing without paying state or local sales tax, according to columbusnavigator.com. The tax exemption begins at 12 a.m. on Friday and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, providing a statewide savings estimate of about $25 million for families preparing for the academic year.
Return to Traditional Format Limits Savings
Families shopping this August will notice a shift compared to the previous two years. According to columbusnavigator.com, Ohio temporarily expanded its sales tax holiday in 2024 and 2025 to include many items priced under $500, such as restaurant meals. This year, the state returns to its traditional back-to-school format, narrowing the list of exempt goods and lowering price thresholds per item.
Under the standard rules, the tax-free status applies strictly to specific categories under set price limits:
- 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.
State guidelines emphasize that these thresholds apply on a per-item basis. Shoppers can purchase multiple qualifying items in a single transaction even if the total bill exceeds the individual price caps. For example, buying five shirts priced at $70 each in one cart qualifies because every individual garment costs less than the $75 limit.
Exclusions and Strict Price Caps
Items priced even a single penny over the established limits do not qualify for a partial exemption. According to columbusnavigator.com, a jacket costing $76 is fully taxable, with no tax-free treatment applied to the first $75 of the purchase.
The exemption excludes several categories that were temporarily covered during the 2024 and 2025 expanded holidays. Non-qualifying items include sports and recreational equipment, clothing accessories and protective equipment, and restaurant or dine-in food. Most general retail purchases, such as electronics, furniture, toys, and household goods, remain fully taxable throughout the three-day weekend.
Online Shopping and Additional Discounts
Online purchases qualify for the sales tax exemption as long as the items are ordered and paid for during the official holiday window, regardless of when delivery occurs. According to columbusnavigator.com, store discounts, coupons, and loyalty rewards can help bring an item below the statutory threshold to secure tax-free status.
Data from the Ohio Department of Taxation indicates that the average family spends roughly $900 per child on back-to-school preparations. State officials estimate that shoppers can save about $80 on a $1,000 qualifying shopping trip during the event.