Mother Maria Anna Brunner Catholic School

6 things to know about Ohio’s sales tax holiday, which starts next week

VISIT THE STATE WEBSITE FOR ALL OF THE DETAILS


Ohio’s upcoming sales tax holiday continues to grow the ways people can save and, this year, the amount of days in which they can do it. The tax holiday, which starts next week and lasts 14 days, is designed to provide “meaningful savings for families across the state,” Gov. Mike DeWine said previously. Saving money during the sales tax holiday takes more than just circling dates on a calendar and filling your cart. For those seeking to cut costs, here are some key considerations to maximize this limited-time opportunity.


The sales tax holiday has expanded.

Instead of 10 days like last year (or a single weekend, as it was in previous years, this year’s sales tax holiday spans two weeks. It kicks off at midnight on August 1 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on August 14.

“The timing of this year’s sales tax holiday not only supports families preparing for back-to-school, but also provides relief on other important household needs,” DeWine said in a statement.



Shopping during the sales tax holiday expanded last year’s so that it is no longer limited to clothing and to back-to-school supplies, and allows for greater spending. Ohio last year allowed the purchase of almost all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less per item to be made tax-free. That replaced the state’s previous limits of $20 for school supplies per item and $75 for clothing per item.

The holiday extends beyond brick-and-mortar stores For someone looking to score as many deals as possible. Still, wanting to save time and avoid the crowds, this year’s installment will allow shoppers to make qualifying purchases both in-store and online without paying state sales tax.

The fine print to keep in mind is that online purchases must be made within the designated time frame — before the Aug. 14 deadline — and shipped to a qualifying address.

Amazon and its partner sellers honor the holiday, so eligible purchases won’t be taxed as long as an order meets the rules. Keep in mind, though, that some items may still be taxed if they don’t qualify — like product bundles, orders placed before the tax holiday starts and items that exceed price limitations.

Location does matter

If you buy from an online seller during the sales tax holiday, the seller’s time zone decides whether the purchase qualifies. So if it’s 1 a.m. Friday in your time zone but still 10 p.m. Thursday where the seller is — like Pacific Time — the holiday hasn’t started for them yet, and sales tax still applies.