Ohio’s tax free weekend 2026 runs from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 9. It is a three-day, back-to-school event, and it is much narrower than the 2025 holiday. Only three categories qualify: 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.1Ohio Department of Taxation. Ohio Sales Tax Holiday Everything else is fully taxable.
Why 2026 Is Narrower Than 2025
If you shopped the 2025 holiday, set those rules aside. Last year nearly any physical product priced at $500 or less was exempt, including electronics, furniture, appliances, and household goods. That expanded version depended on the Director of Budget and Management certifying that a special fund held at least $60 million.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 131.44 – Transferring Surplus Revenue For 2026, that certification did not happen, so Ohio reverts to its statutory default: a three-day weekend focused on back-to-school items.1Ohio Department of Taxation. Ohio Sales Tax Holiday A big-ticket purchase this August will not come with a tax break unless it fits one of the three qualifying categories.
Clothing at $75 or Less
The clothing exemption is broader than many shoppers expect. It covers any item of human wearing apparel suitable for general use, priced at $75 or less.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 5739.02 – Levy of Sales Tax That includes shoes, boots, sneakers, sandals, slippers, coats, jackets, rainwear, bathing suits, diapers (including disposable), uniforms, formal wear, and wedding apparel, along with everyday items like belts, scarves, hats, gloves, hosiery, and earmuffs.1Ohio Department of Taxation. Ohio Sales Tax Holiday
Several things that look like clothing are excluded. Accessories such as jewelry, handbags, watches, and sunglasses are taxable. Protective equipment and sports and recreational equipment are taxable. Belt buckles sold separately, costume masks sold separately, and patches sold separately do not qualify. Sewing supplies and materials, including fabric, thread, yarn, zippers, buttons, sewing machines, and patterns, are also left out.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 5739.02 – Levy of Sales Tax
The price cap works per item, not per receipt. An item priced at $75.01 or more is fully taxable; the exemption does not just cover the first $75. But each item is evaluated on its own, so a $60 shirt and a $50 pair of pants rung up together are both exempt, even though the total is $110.
School Supplies and Instructional Materials at $20 or Less
School supplies qualify at $20 or less, but only from a defined list. Qualifying items are binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, compasses, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue and paste, highlighters, index cards, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, loose-leaf paper, copy paper, graph paper, construction paper, poster board, pencils, pens, pencil sharpeners, protractors, rulers, scissors, and writing tablets.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 5739.02 – Levy of Sales Tax If a school supply is not on that list, it does not qualify regardless of price.
School instructional materials, also exempt at $20 or less, are limited to reference books, reference maps and globes, textbooks, and workbooks.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 5739.02 – Levy of Sales Tax None of the exempt categories apply to items purchased for use in a trade or business.1Ohio Department of Taxation. Ohio Sales Tax Holiday
What Is Not Covered
Restaurant meals, prepared food, electronics, furniture, appliances, jewelry, and household goods are not part of the 2026 holiday. Within the three qualifying categories, the main exclusions to watch for are:
- Clothing or supplies bought for use in a trade or business.
- Clothing accessories such as jewelry, handbags, watches, and sunglasses.
- Protective equipment and sports or recreational gear, including helmets and pads.
- Sewing materials and equipment, from fabric and thread to sewing machines and patterns.
- School supplies not named in the statute’s list, and instructional materials outside the four listed types.
Online, Phone, and Mail Orders
Remote purchases qualify as long as you place the order and the retailer accepts it during the three-day window, even if the item ships or arrives later. The transaction date is what matters, not the delivery date. Click “buy” at 11:50 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, and the exemption still applies if the retailer processes the order before midnight.
Shipping charges can quietly change the math. If a retailer adds shipping or handling fees, those typically fold into the total price for threshold purposes. A pair of shoes listed at $72 with a $5 shipping charge can cross the $75 line and lose the exemption entirely. Free shipping or in-store pickup avoids that risk.
How Much You Actually Save
Ohio’s state sales tax rate is 5.75%, and every county adds its own surcharge on top of that, so combined rates range from 6.50% to 8.00% depending on where you shop.4Ohio Department of Taxation. State and Permissive Sales Tax Rates by County On a $75 clothing purchase in a county with a 7.25% combined rate, you save $5.44. A family spending $300 on qualifying clothes and supplies could keep $20 or more.
If a Retailer Charges Tax on an Exempt Item
Mistakes happen, particularly with smaller retailers whose systems have not been updated. If you are charged sales tax on a qualifying item during the holiday, the simplest fix is to bring your receipt back to the store and ask for a refund of the tax. Most retailers will correct it on the spot. If the store will not cooperate, you can file a refund claim directly with the Ohio Department of Taxation through their online system.
Keep your receipts from the holiday weekend. A receipt showing the date, the item description, and the tax charged is what you will need whether you are dealing with the retailer or the state.