Tax-Free Weekend

Ohio’s 2026 Tax-Free Weekend: Save on Back-to-School Shopping (August 7–9)Summer brings long, lazy days and the perfect opportunity to save on back-to-school shopping. Many states offer temporary sales tax holidays to help families with essential purchases. While Indiana and Kentucky do not currently offer general sales tax holidays in 2026, Ohio is providing a valuable three-day tax-free weekend focused on back-to-school essentials.

What Is a Tax-Free Weekend?

A tax-free weekend (also called a sales tax holiday) temporarily waives sales tax on specific items, usually back-to-school supplies like clothing, shoes, and school materials. Price limits often apply, and rules vary by state. Five states (Alaska, Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, and Delaware) have no statewide sales tax at all. Local taxes may still apply in some areas, so actual savings depend on your location.

Ohio’s Tax-Free Weekend 2026

Ohio’s 2026 Sales Tax Holiday runs for three days only — from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

This is a return to the traditional back-to-school format (the expanded holiday covering most items under $500 is not available in 2026).

Qualifying items include:

• Clothing priced at $75 or less per item (includes shirts, pants, shoes, coats, uniforms, underwear, socks, and many other apparel items suitable for general use)
• School supplies priced at $20 or less per item (includes notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, crayons, scissors, rulers, calculators, glue, folders, backpacks/book bags, lunch boxes, and more)
• School instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item (includes textbooks, workbooks, reference books, maps, and globes)

Ohio’s state sales tax rate is 5.75%. Combined with local taxes, the total rate ranges from about 6.5% to 8.25% depending on the county. The holiday exempts both state and local sales tax on qualifying items.Important notes:

• Each item is evaluated individually against its price cap.
• The holiday applies to in-store and online purchases (as long as the item is ordered and paid for during the three-day period).
• Items over the price limits, business purchases, food, alcohol, tobacco, motor vehicles, and many other categories do not qualify.

For the complete list of qualifying and non-qualifying items, visit the official Ohio Department of Taxation Sales Tax Holiday page.

Indiana and Kentucky: No General Tax Holidays in 2026

Indiana and Kentucky are not offering statewide back-to-school sales tax holidays this year. Indiana’s state sales tax is 7%, and Kentucky’s is 6%.

Residents of these states who live near the Ohio border may want to consider shopping in Ohio during August 7–9. Many online retailers also honor Ohio’s tax holiday when shipping to Ohio addresses (or sometimes for eligible Ohio-taxed orders).

Tips for Smart Shopping During Ohio’s Tax-Free Weekend

• Create a shopping list — Focus on items that fit the price caps ($75 for clothing, $20 for supplies/instructional materials).
• Mark your calendar — The holiday is short (just one weekend), so plan ahead.
• Check prices and discounts — Combine store sales with the tax savings. A $74 shirt saves more than a $76 shirt.
• Shop online strategically — Order and pay during August 7–9. Watch shipping costs, as they can affect whether an item stays under the cap.
• Know the rules — Review the full details on the Ohio Department of Taxation website before shopping. Retailers must follow the price-per-item rules.
• Keep receipts — In case of returns or questions.
  

Savings Potential

Savings equal the combined state + local sales tax rate on qualifying items.

Examples:

• A $75 clothing item saves approximately $4.88 – $6.19 (depending on local rate).
• A $20 school supply item saves approximately $1.30 – $1.65.
• A family buying several qualifying items can easily save $20–$100+ over the weekend.
  Indiana and Kentucky residents shopping in Ohio will save the full Ohio combined rate (typically 7–8%) on eligible purchases.

Final Thoughts

Ohio’s August 7–9, 2026 tax-free weekend offers a great opportunity to stretch your back-to-school budget on clothing and school essentials. While Indiana and Kentucky residents don’t have their own holiday this year, crossing into Ohio or shopping online during this period can still deliver meaningful savings.

Always verify the latest details directly on the Ohio Department of Taxation website, as rules are specific and retailers must comply exactly.

Happy shopping and good luck with the new school year!