Back to school shopping is never cheap, but Ohioans can save a little more this year with a one weekend per year sales tax holiday from the Ohio Department of Taxation.
Plan ahead, because from Friday, August 4, 2023 until Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., you can do some tax free back to school shopping!
What does this mean for your wallet? Sales tax in the area ranges from 6.75-7.5%, so for every $100 that you spend, you’ll save $6.75 – $7.50 during the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday in Ohio.
No kids, no problem! This applies to everyone, so it’s the perfect time to shop for your work wardrobe, stay at home wardrobe, fall clothing, Christmas gifts, and summer clearance sales!
Stores will be competing for everyone’s business during the sales tax holiday, so there are likely to be excellent coordinating sales through the weekend.
Items included in Ohio Sales Tax Holiday for Tax-free Back-to-school Shopping
Clothing and shoes priced at $75 per item or less. Items over $75 will have the standard sales tax applied to the entire price of the item. (Note: items that are worn for specific sports or recreation are not included, such as ballet/tap shoes, football/baseball cleats, sport specific gloves, etc)
School supplies priced at $20 per item or less (see qualifying list below)
School instructional material priced at $20 per item or less
Rainchecks must be redeemed during the tax-free weekend to qualify. Qualifying items placed on or picked up from layaway during the sales tax holiday are exempt from sales tax. See full list of FAQ’s here.
As long as each item you purchase is within the per item prices listed above, your entire purchase will be tax-free. It’s a great way to save on back to school shopping.
Not included in tax-free sales
Items not included are most accessories, protective equipment, sewing supplies, sports and rec equipment or sports-specific clothing, or items specific to trade or business.
School supplies included in the back to school tax free holiday
binders; book bags; calculators; cellophane tape; blackboard chalk; compasses; composition books; crayons; erasers; folders (expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila); glue, paste, and paste sticks; highlighters; index cards; index card boxes; legal pads; lunch boxes; markers; notebooks; paper; loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper; pencil boxes and other school supply boxes; pencil sharpeners; pencils; pens; protractors; rulers; scissors; and writing tablets.
Back to school deals and events for Columbus and Central Ohio
Back to school events going on around Columbus
(this list will be updated in July when events are announced)
- Subscribe to Columbus on the Cheap's email list
- Free and cheap events this weekend in Columbus
- Inexpensive Date Nights in Columbus
- Columbus Happy Hours
- Bucket list of free and cheap fun for kid in Columbus
- Free outdoor concert roundup around Columbus
- Over 325 Central Ohio and Columbus Festivals
- Free outdoor movies around Columbus
- Discounted and Free Museum Days in Columbus
- Over 20 Farmers Markets around Columbus
- Best places to pick berries in Columbus
- Best places to pick apples and peaches in Columbus
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