Get ready to shop! Ohio is finally going to have a sales tax holiday this August, just in time for back-to-school! A common practice in many states, Ohio lawmakers have approved the first ever sales tax holiday in the Buckeye State.
The holiday starts on Friday, August 7, 2015 at 12:01 am and ends on Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 11:59 pm. During this time only, you can buy certain items and not pay any sales or use tax, either at the store or online. Those items fall into the following categories:
• 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
You can buy any number of clothing items under $75, since the exemption applies to the individual price of an item. The same applies to school supplies and instructional material.
While most items of clothing are included in the sales tax holiday, things like accessories and sports equipment are not included. There’s also a list of specific school supplies and instructional materials that are included in the holiday.
Proponents of the measure and supporters from other states with such holidays say retailers leverage the tax exemption to create a Black Friday-like appeal and end up offering their own promotions.
A University of Cincinnati study concludes Ohio families will save $78 million on school supplies.
Visit the Ohio Department of Taxation’s information page for the specific lists and more details on the tax holiday.
Happy shopping!
