Governor DeWine Announces 2026 Ohio Sales Tax Holiday for Back-to-School Shopping
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio families preparing for the upcoming school year will once again get a break at the checkout counter during the state’s annual sales tax holiday.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the 2026 Ohio Sales Tax Holiday will run from 12:00 a.m. Friday, August 7, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 9. During that three-day period, certain back-to-school items will be exempt from sales tax.
“Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday comes at a time of year when families are getting ready for back-to-school,” said Governor DeWine. “The sales tax break is designed to provide meaningful savings for families as they purchase new school essentials for the upcoming year.”
Items that qualify for the sales tax exemption include clothing priced at $75 or less per item, school supplies priced at $20 or less per item, and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item.
Tax Commissioner Patricia Harris said the annual event is meant to help Ohio families as they shop for school necessities.
“This annual holiday provides meaningful savings for Ohio families while supporting back-to-school preparation,” Harris said. “We encourage shoppers and retailers to plan ahead and take advantage of the exemption.”
According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, qualifying clothing includes many common apparel items such as coats, jackets, shoes, socks, uniforms, hats, gloves, rainwear, formal wear and diapers. However, clothing accessories, protective equipment, sports or recreational equipment, sewing materials, and items purchased for business use do not qualify.
Qualifying school supplies include items such as binders, book bags, calculators, crayons, folders, glue, highlighters, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, paper, pencil boxes, pencils, pens, rulers, scissors and writing tablets. School instructional materials include reference books, maps, globes, textbooks and workbooks.
State officials noted that the 2026 sales tax holiday will not include the expanded exemption on items $500 and under that was offered previously. The 2026 holiday will only apply to the standard back-to-school categories. It will not apply to restaurant food, boats, watercraft, motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, vape products, marijuana-related items, taxable services or business purchases.
The state also provided several reminders for shoppers. The price limit applies to each individual item, not the total purchase. For example, if a customer buys several clothing items that each cost $75 or less, those items qualify even if the total transaction is higher. However, partial exemptions are not allowed. If a school supply costs $60, shoppers cannot exempt the first $20 and pay tax only on the remaining amount.
Online purchases may also qualify, as long as the eligible items are ordered and paid for during the sales tax holiday period, even if they are delivered later. If buying from a seller in another time zone, the seller’s time zone determines whether the purchase falls within the holiday period.
Retailers are expected to refund sales tax to customers who are incorrectly charged tax on exempt items during the holiday. Customers should first take their receipt back to the retailer. If they are unable to receive a refund from the vendor, they may apply through the state using the proper form.
Additional details, including frequently asked questions and guidance for both shoppers and retailers, are available through the Ohio Department of Taxation. Taxpayers may also contact the department at 1-888-405-4039 for assistance.
