COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio’s sales tax holiday is shrinking for 2026, but back-to-school consumers still have the opportunity to save by shopping carefully.
Last year, Ohio’s tax holiday lasted 14 days and applied to nearly all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less. This year, lawmakers have returned the event to its previous back-to-school format, limiting the tax break to qualifying clothing, school supplies and instructional materials. The list of eligible items may surprise shoppers, with some common school essentials making the cut while others are excluded. Watch a previous report on this year’s changes in the player above.
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This year’s sales tax holiday will take place between Aug. 7 and 9. Starting Friday at midnight and ending Sunday at 11:59 p.m., the following items are exempt from sales and use tax in Ohio:
• An item of clothing priced at $75 or less• An item of school supplies priced at $20 or less• An item of school instructional material priced at $20 or less
Clothing, including shirts, blouses, sweaters, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, athletic and non-athletic uniforms, shoes, shoelaces and more, qualify for the tax-free holiday…