Ohio sales tax holiday: Which school supplies are exempt from taxes?

Watch a previous NBC4 report on Ohio’s sales tax holiday in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Ohio’s back-to-school sales tax-free holiday, when clothes and supplies are exempt from sales taxes, kicks off next week and will run for an expanded 10 days.

Starting midnight on July 30 to 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 8, all tangible personal property that is $500 or less will be exempt from sales and use tax in Ohio. There is no limit on the amount of the total purchase, as the qualification is determined item by item. So, the purchase of two shirts, two pair of pants, a pair of shoes and a jacket, each item costing $100 for a total purchase of $600, would be tax exempt.

The holiday does not include an exemption from sales tax for services or any purchase of a watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vapor products or any item that contains marijuana.

If a retailer offers a discount to reduce the price of an eligible item to $500 or less, the item will qualify for the exemption. This applies to all discounts even if a retailer’s coupon or loyalty card is required to secure the discount.

Items sold by mail, phone, e-mail or Internet qualify for the exemption if the order was placed during the holiday, even if delivery is made after the exemption period. However, if the order and payment were made before the holiday, even if the item was delivered during the sales tax exemption, it would not qualify.

Qualifying items placed on or picked up from layaway during the sales tax holiday are also exempt from sales tax.

Since 2019, Ohio Senate Bill 226 has provided a permanent sales tax holiday that previously ran for three days. Gov. Mike DeWine announced in May that the holiday would be expanding to 10 days for this upcoming school year.

“Ohio’s sales tax holiday, historically, has been meant to help families buy clothing and school supplies for the upcoming school year,” DeWine said. “This expanded sales tax break will help Ohio’s families with back-to-school necessities as well as other substantial purchases during a time when so many household budgets are being strained.”

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