Back-to-school shopping just got a little cheaper in Ohio.
Governor Mike DeWine announced that Ohio's 2026 Sales Tax Holiday will run for three days in August — from 12 a.m. on August 7 through 11:59 p.m. on August 9. Avalara
Three days. No sales tax on qualifying items. And if you're a parent stocking up on school supplies, clothing, or instructional materials before the new school year, the timing is designed exactly for you.
Here's what's covered, what's not, and what businesses need to have ready before the weekend arrives.
Ohio's sales tax holiday is an annual event where the state temporarily suspends sales tax on select back-to-school purchases. It's designed to give families a break on essential school items right before the academic year begins.
The holiday normally begins right before the new school year starts so parents and students can save money on school supplies. Avalara
Ohio has run this holiday in various forms for years. The 2023 version was notably expanded — covering all items $500 and under for a full weekend. The 2026 version returns to the traditional, narrower scope focused specifically on back-to-school essentials.
The 2026 Ohio Sales Tax Holiday includes all items of clothing priced at $75 or less, school supplies priced at $20 or less, and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less. Avalara
Breaking that down:
Clothing — $75 or less per item:
School Supplies — $20 or less per item:
School Instructional Materials — $20 or less per item:
If an item falls within these categories and stays under the price threshold, no Ohio sales tax applies — state or local — during the holiday window.
This is where shoppers can get caught off guard — and where retailers need to be precise.
The sales tax holiday does not include items that are $500 or less, food in restaurants, boats and watercrafts, titled outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, vape products, or items with marijuana. It also does not apply to taxable services and items purchased for use in a business. Avalara
A few things worth highlighting specifically:
The price thresholds apply per item, not per transaction. Buying five $18 notebooks is fine — all five qualify. Buying one $25 notebook means that item is fully taxable.
Ohio's 2023 sales tax holiday was a significant expansion — covering essentially all items priced at $500 or under for the entire weekend. That version generated a lot of buzz because it extended well beyond school supplies into appliances, electronics, and furniture.
The 2026 holiday does not include items that are $500 or less. Avalara
In other words — that expanded version is gone. 2026 is back to the traditional, targeted format. Families hoping to score a tax-free TV or refrigerator like they could in 2023 will be disappointed. This holiday is specifically about clothing and school supplies, not general consumer goods.
If you're planning purchases based on what Ohio's holiday covered in prior years, double-check the current rules before assuming something qualifies.
Ohio's state sales tax rate is 5.75%. Combined with local rates, most Ohio shoppers pay between 6.5% and 8% in total sales tax depending on their county.
Here's what that saves on a typical back-to-school haul:
| Item | Price | Tax Saved (at 7.5%) |
|---|---|---|
| Pair of sneakers | $70 | $5.25 |
| School uniform set | $65 | $4.88 |
| Calculator | $18 | $1.35 |
| Backpack full of supplies | $45 in supplies | $3.38 |
| Total | $198 | ~$14.86 |
Not enough to change your life — but enough to cover another supply run. And for families buying for multiple kids, it adds up faster.
If you operate a retail business in Ohio, the sales tax holiday isn't just a consumer event — it's a compliance event. You're responsible for correctly applying the exemption at the point of sale, and getting it wrong creates liability.
Here's what to have in place before the weekend:
The holiday runs 72 hours. High transaction volume, edge-case products, and price-threshold questions will come fast. Preparation before August 7 is the difference between a smooth weekend and a compliance headache.
Ohio's back-to-school weekend is one of the most recognized sales tax holidays in the country — but it's far from the only one happening in 2026.
Nearly 20 states have confirmed at least one sales tax holiday this year, covering everything from back-to-school clothing and supplies to Energy Star appliances, emergency preparedness gear, firearms and ammunition, and even outdoor recreation equipment. Key dates cluster around the same August 7–9 weekend as Ohio — Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia are all running their own back-to-school holidays that same weekend. Tennessee's holiday runs July 24–26, Connecticut's goes August 16–22, and Maryland's stretches from August 9–15.
The holiday types vary too. Florida alone runs five separate sales tax holidays throughout 2026 — including a "Freedom Month" holiday in July covering boating, camping, and fishing supplies, and a dedicated "Tool Time" holiday for skilled trade workers. Louisiana and Mississippi both run Second Amendment weekends later in the year. Missouri added an Energy Star appliance holiday in April on top of its August back-to-school event.
If you sell across multiple states, the compliance picture gets complex fast — different dates, different qualifying categories, different price thresholds, and different rules on whether local taxes are included. For the full 2026 sales tax holiday schedule, state by state, visit our complete guide to sales tax holidays. It covers every confirmed holiday, the eligible items, and the price caps you need to know.
Running a retail business in Ohio or another state with an upcoming sales tax holiday and not sure how to handle compliance during the exemption window? Book a free consultation with our team at sales.tax. We'll make sure your systems are set up correctly before the holiday hits.