Ohio's statewide sales tax is 5.75%, but your total rate depends on your county
Ohio has a base sales tax of 5.75% that applies everywhere in the state. However, most counties add their own local sales tax on top of that, which means what you actually pay at checkout ranges from 5.75% to 8.5% depending on where you live or shop. The county you're in — not the store's location — determines your rate.
When you buy something in Ohio, the tax is calculated on the final sale price. If you buy a $100 item in a county with a 7% total rate, you pay $107. That tax goes to the state and your local government; it funds schools, roads, and public services in your area.
Key Takeaways
- Ohio's base sales tax is 5.75%, but 87 of Ohio's 88 counties add local tax on top of it, raising your total to between 6.25% and 8.5%.
- Your sales tax rate is determined by the county where you make the purchase, not where the seller is located or where the item ships to.
- Food bought at a grocery store is not taxed in Ohio, but prepared food, restaurant meals, and alcohol are all taxable.
- Online purchases from out-of-state sellers are subject to Ohio sales tax if the seller has a physical presence or meets certain sales thresholds in the state.
County-by-county rates: what you pay where
Only one county in Ohio — Wyandot County — charges no local sales tax and stays at the 5.75% state rate. Every other county adds between 0.5% and 2.75% on top of the state rate. Franklin County (Columbus) charges 7.5% total. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) charges 8%, and Hamilton County (Cincinnati) charges 7.5%.
The highest rates in the state are 8.5%, found in counties including Pike, Scioto, and several others in southern and eastern Ohio. The lowest combined rates outside Wyandot are 6.25%, found in counties like Geauga and Lake in the northeast.
If you live near a county border, it matters where you shop. Buying in a lower-tax county saves money on large purchases. Some people cross county lines for major buys, though the difference is usually small — the gap between the lowest and highest rate is only 2.75 percentage points.
What is and isn't taxed in Ohio
Groceries — unprepared food you buy at a supermarket to cook at home — are not taxed in Ohio. This includes bread, milk, vegetables, meat, and canned goods. However, prepared food is taxed. If you buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store deli, a sandwich from a restaurant, or anything from a food truck, you pay sales tax on it.
Alcohol and tobacco are taxed at the regular sales tax rate, plus they have their own state excise taxes on top. Prescription medications are not taxed, but over-the-counter drugs and vitamins are. Clothing and shoes are taxed. Services like haircuts, car repairs, and plumbing are generally not taxed, though some specific services have their own rules.
Digital goods — ebooks, streaming subscriptions, downloaded music, and software — are taxed in Ohio. If you buy a subscription to a streaming service or read an app, you pay sales tax on it.
How online and out-of-state purchases are taxed
If you order something online from a company that has a warehouse, office, or other physical location in Ohio, you owe Ohio sales tax on that purchase. Major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target all have operations in Ohio, so purchases from them are taxed at your local rate.
If you buy from a small out-of-state seller with no presence in Ohio, the rules depend on how much that seller ships to Ohio customers. Sellers who ship more than a certain dollar amount to Ohio residents in a year must collect and send Ohio sales tax, even if they have no physical location here. The threshold changes, so if you're unsure whether a seller should have charged you tax, contact the Ohio Department of Taxation.
When you order online, the tax is usually calculated automatically at checkout based on your shipping address. If it isn't, you may owe use tax — a tax on items you bought out of state but brought into Ohio. Most people don't report use tax on small personal purchases, but it is technically owed.
Finding your specific county rate
The Ohio Department of Taxation maintains a list of all county and local sales tax rates on its website. You can search by county name or zip code to find your exact rate. The rates are updated regularly, so if you're planning a large purchase or comparing costs across counties, check the official list rather than relying on an older rate you may have seen.
Some cities and special districts within counties add their own small taxes on top of the county rate, though this is uncommon. If you need the precise rate for a specific address, the Department of Taxation's lookup tool is the most reliable source.
Sales tax on vehicles and large purchases
When you buy a car in Ohio, you pay sales tax on the purchase price. The rate is your local county rate, not the rate where the dealership is located. If you buy a car in a neighboring state and bring it to Ohio, you owe Ohio sales tax on it, calculated at your home county's rate.
Trade-ins reduce the taxable amount. If you buy a $20,000 car and trade in a vehicle worth $5,000, you pay sales tax only on the $15,000 difference. This applies to cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay sales tax on items I buy online and have shipped to another state?
No. If you have an item shipped to an address outside Ohio, you do not pay Ohio sales tax on it. You may owe sales tax in the state where it's being shipped, depending on that state's rules and the seller's presence there.
Can I get a refund of sales tax if I return something?
Yes. When you return an item and get your money back, the sales tax is refunded as part of that refund. If the store gives you store credit instead of a refund, you don't get the tax back, but you can use the credit to buy something else and pay tax on the new purchase.
Is there sales tax on services like haircuts or car repairs?
Most services in Ohio are not subject to sales tax. Haircuts, car repairs, plumbing, and similar services are generally not taxed. However, if you buy a product as part of the service — like a haircut plus a product the stylist sells you — the product portion may be taxed.
What if a store charges me the wrong sales tax?
Contact the store and ask for a correction. If the store charged you too much, they should refund the difference. If you believe a store is consistently charging the wrong rate, you can report it to the Ohio Department of Taxation, which investigates sales tax violations.
Do I owe sales tax on items I buy used from a private person?
No. Sales tax applies to retail sales by businesses. When you buy something used from another person — through a garage sale, Facebook Marketplace, or a private transaction — there is no sales tax owed, even if you meet in Ohio.