COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLIO) – It’s back-to-school time, and the state is giving residents a two-week financial break to help with the cost of supplies and other essentials.
This is the 10th anniversary of Ohio’s sales tax holiday, and starting at 12 a-m on August first, the state is giving you two full weeks of no sales tax on qualifying items for in-store and on-line purchases.
The holiday begins at 12 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, and runs through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14. During this time, nearly all items priced at $500 or less will be exempt from sales tax. That includes computers, electronics, clothing, home goods, and even dine-in food and soft drinks.
So, the state says almost all items, five hundred dollars or less will be sales tax free. So, that means computers and other electronic gadgets, clothing, even home goods less than 500 dollars will be tax free. Even dine-in food and soft drinks will be tax free the next two week.
Certain products, however, are not eligible for the tax break.
But items that are exempt include Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and vaping products, and any items containing marijuana. And of course, motor vehicles, boats and outboard motors.
The $500 limit applies per item, so multiple items in a single transaction can still qualify for the exemption, as long as each one falls below the threshold.
The $500 limit is per item, so even if your total purchase is more than 500 dollars and each individual items is less than $500, they all will be tax free. Businesses cannot refuse to take part in the Sales Tax Holiday.
Local governments that rely on sales tax revenue will be reimbursed by the state for any lost income.
Local governments who depend on sale tax collection for their revenues will be reimbursed by the state of Ohio, so there will not be any loss of income for counties during the next two week.
More details on the Sales Tax Holiday can be found here.
