Ohio's tax-free holiday runs for one week in August

Ohio holds a tax-free holiday once per year, typically in early August. For 2024, the holiday runs from August 4 through August 10. During this week, you pay no sales tax on may have access to school supplies, clothing, and footwear when you buy them in Ohio or online from Ohio retailers.

The exact dates shift slightly each year because the state legislature sets them annually. The holiday always falls in early August and lasts exactly seven days. If you plan to stock up on back-to-school items, marking these dates on your calendar saves you money on purchases you would make anyway.

Key Takeaways

  • Ohio's tax-free holiday lasts seven consecutive days in early August each year, with 2024 running August 4–10.
  • The holiday applies only to school supplies under $20 per item, clothing and footwear under $75 per item, and school instructional materials.
  • The tax break applies to purchases made in Ohio stores and from Ohio-based online retailers during the holiday week.
  • Items like computers, sports equipment, and general household goods do not may have access to, even if used for school.

What items may have access to for the tax-free week

Not everything you buy during the holiday week is tax-free. The state limits the break to three categories: school supplies, clothing and footwear, and school instructional materials.

School supplies must cost $20 or less per item. Pencils, notebooks, pens, folders, binders, calculators, and backpacks all count if they stay under that price. A $25 backpack does not may have access to, but a $19 one does. The $20 cap applies to each individual item, not your total purchase.

Clothing and footwear may have access to if they cost $75 or less per item. Shirts, pants, jackets, socks, shoes, and belts all count. A $70 winter coat qualifies; a $80 coat does not. Like school supplies, the limit applies per item, so you can buy multiple items as long as each one is under $75.

School instructional materials — textbooks, workbooks, and similar items — are also tax-free during the week, with no price cap. Items like computers, printers, sports equipment, and general household goods do not may have access to, even if your child uses them for school.

Where you can use the tax-free holiday

The tax break works at physical stores in Ohio and when you order online from Ohio-based retailers. If you shop at a national chain with stores in Ohio, you get the tax-free price at the Ohio location during the holiday week. The same applies to local shops and independent retailers.

Online purchases from Ohio retailers also may have access to, as long as the retailer is based in Ohio. If you order from a retailer headquartered outside Ohio, you typically pay sales tax even during the holiday week. Check the retailer's address or contact them directly if you are unsure whether they are Ohio-based.

The tax savings depend on your local sales tax rate. In most of Ohio, the combined state and local sales tax ranges from 5.5% to 8%, so a $50 purchase saves you roughly $2.75 to $4 in tax. Over a week of back-to-school shopping, those savings add up.

How to plan your shopping during the week

Start by making a list of what you actually need before the holiday week begins. This keeps you from buying items you would not otherwise purchase just because they are tax-free. Focus on school supplies and clothing that your child needs for the upcoming school year.

Check price tags carefully, especially on clothing and footwear. Items priced at $75.01 or higher will have tax added at checkout, so a $76 pair of shoes loses the tax-free benefit. Some stores mark may have access to items clearly during the week, but not all do, so you may need to ask a cashier or check the receipt.

If you shop online, place your order during the holiday week and confirm the retailer is Ohio-based before checkout. Some online orders take several days to process, so ordering early in the week gives you a buffer in case there are delays.

Items that do not may have access to even during tax-free week

Computers, tablets, and other electronics are not tax-free, even if your child uses them for schoolwork. Sports equipment like cleats, gloves, and athletic wear also does not may have access to. General household items such as lunch boxes, water bottles, and desk lamps are taxed normally.

Items over the price limits lose the tax-free status entirely. A $25 pen set does not may have access to because it exceeds the $20 school supply cap. A $80 pair of shoes does not may have access to because it exceeds the $75 clothing cap. There is no partial tax break — either the item qualifies or it does not.

Meals, beverages, and prepared food are always taxed in Ohio, regardless of when you buy them. Furniture, even if it is a school desk, is also taxed. If you are unsure whether a specific item qualifies, ask the cashier or call the store before you shop.

Checking the dates for next year

Because the Ohio legislature sets the tax-free holiday dates each year, the exact week can shift. The state typically announces the dates in spring, so you can plan ahead. Check the Ohio Department of Taxation website or your local news in late spring to confirm the dates for the following August.

Some retailers send out reminders as the holiday approaches, and local schools often mention it in back-to-school communications. Setting a phone reminder a week before the holiday week begins helps you remember to shop during the tax-free period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I return items I bought during tax-free week and get the tax back?

No. Once you complete the purchase during the tax-free week, the transaction is final. If you return the item later, the refund is based on what you paid — which was the tax-free price. You do not receive a tax refund because no tax was charged.

Do I need a coupon or special card to get the tax-free price?

No. The tax-free status is automatic during the holiday week. You straightforward check out normally, and the cashier removes the sales tax from may have access to items. No coupon, membership, or special identification is required.

What if I buy something that qualifies but the cashier charges me tax anyway?

Ask the cashier to verify the item qualifies and check the price. If the item is under the price limit and falls into a may have access to category, the tax should be removed. If there is a disagreement, ask to speak with a manager. Keep your receipt in case you need to return and request a refund of the tax charged.

Can I buy gifts for someone else during tax-free week?

Yes. As long as the items may have access to and are within the price limits, you can buy them for anyone during the tax-free week. The tax break applies to the items themselves, not to who purchases them or who receives them.

Does the tax-free holiday explore to online orders shipped to other states?

No. If you order from an Ohio retailer but have the item shipped to an address outside Ohio, you typically pay that state's sales tax instead. The tax-free holiday applies only to purchases delivered to Ohio addresses.