COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio shoppers will see a much different sales tax holiday this year, as the state returns to a shorter, back-to-school-focused event after offering a significantly expanded tax break in 2025.
The 2026 sales tax holiday will run for just three days, beginning at 12:00 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and ending at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.
During that period, sales tax will be waived on clothing priced at $75 or less per item, school supplies priced at $20 or less per item and qualifying school instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item.
That is a major change from 2025.
Last year’s Ohio sales tax holiday lasted two weeks, from Aug. 1 through Aug. 14, and covered nearly all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less per item. That allowed shoppers to save sales tax on purchases well beyond traditional back-to-school merchandise, including many electronics, household items and other goods.
The expanded $500 exemption will not return for 2026. Instead, items outside the state’s designated clothing, school supply and instructional material categories will generally remain taxable.
The price limits also apply to each individual item rather than the total transaction. For example, a shopper could purchase several qualifying pieces of clothing costing $75 or less each and receive the exemption on all of them.
Online purchases can also qualify as long as eligible items are ordered and paid for during the three-day holiday and meet the applicable price limits.
For Ohio Valley families preparing for the upcoming school year, the biggest thing to remember is simple: shoppers should not expect the broad tax savings they saw last August. This year’s holiday is shorter, has much lower price limits and is once again centered specifically on back-to-school shopping.
