Ohio's sales tax holiday for back to school runs Aug. 5 to 7 for select purchases

Craig Webb, The Times-Reporter
·2 min read
Bryan Jinnette, manager at Staples on Arlington Road, talks about back-to-school shopping season and how the store is stocking up supplies in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.
Bryan Jinnette, manager at Staples on Arlington Road, talks about back-to-school shopping season and how the store is stocking up supplies in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.

Ohio's sales tax holiday is coming.

And that means summer is coming to a close and kids will soon be going back to school.

The state's tax-free weekend for school supplies will be from Aug. 5 to Aug. 7 this year. The sales tax rates across northern Ohio range from 6.75% to a high of 8% in Cuyahoga County.

The tax break will be for school supplies and some clothing purchases.

Jessica Love, 17, a senior at Portage Lake Career Center, shops for school supplies at Staples on Arlington Road in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.
Jessica Love, 17, a senior at Portage Lake Career Center, shops for school supplies at Staples on Arlington Road in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.

Here are the basic rules of what will be exempt from sales tax:

  • 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.

The Ohio Department of Taxation notes that items that are typically used for trade or a business are not exempt.

The state has a wide definition of what it considers to be an item of clothing eligible for the tax break, and some of the items — like a wedding dress as long as it is under the $75 threshold — might surprise you.

Clothing eligible for tax break in Ohio

The state defines clothing as "all human wearing apparel suitable for general use."

Alyssa Jordan, operations manager at Staples on Arlington Road, unpacks a box of binders as they stock up back-to-school supplies at the store in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.
Alyssa Jordan, operations manager at Staples on Arlington Road, unpacks a box of binders as they stock up back-to-school supplies at the store in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.

The eligible items include: shirts; blouses; sweaters; pants; shorts; skirts; dresses; uniforms (athletic and nonathletic); shoes and shoelaces; insoles for shoes; sneakers; sandals; boots; overshoes; slippers; steel-toed shoes; underwear; socks and stockings; hosiery; pantyhose; footlets; coats and jackets; rainwear; gloves and mittens for general use; hats and caps; earmuffs; belts and suspenders; neckties; scarves; aprons (household and shop); lab coats; athletic supporters; bathing suits and caps; beach capes and coats; costumes; baby receiving blankets; diapers, children and adult, including disposable diapers; rubber pants; garters and garter belts; girdles; formal wear and wedding apparel.

Riley Nash, an inventory specialist at Staples on Arlington Road, stocks binders on the shelf as the store prepares for back to school sales in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.
Riley Nash, an inventory specialist at Staples on Arlington Road, stocks binders on the shelf as the store prepares for back to school sales in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.

Here's a list of some of the items that are not eligible. They include:

  • Clothing accessories or equipment including briefcases; cosmetics; hair notions, including, but not limited to, barrettes, hair bows, and hairnets; handbags; handkerchiefs; jewelry; sunglasses (non-prescription); umbrellas; wallets; watches; and wigs and hair pieces.

  • Protective equipment including breathing masks; ear and hearing protectors; face shields; hard hats; helmets; paint or dust respirators; protective gloves; safety glasses and goggles; safety belts; tool belts; and welders gloves and masks.

  • Sewing equipment and supplies including knitting needles, patterns, pins, scissors, sewing machines, sewing needles, tape measures and thimbles; and sewing materials that become part of “clothing” including, but not limited to, buttons, fabric, lace, thread, yarn and zippers.

  • Sports or recreational equipment including ballet and tap shoes; cleated or spiked athletic shoes; gloves; hand and elbow guards; life preservers and vests; mouth guards; roller and ice skates; shin guards; shoulder pads; ski boots; waders; and wetsuits and fins.

  • Belt buckles sold separately.

  • Costume masks sold separately.

  • Patches and emblems sold separately.

For more information, visit https://tax.ohio.gov/home.

Alyssa Jordan, operations manager, hands a box of binders to Riley Nash, an inventory specialist, at Staples on Arlington Road in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.
Alyssa Jordan, operations manager, hands a box of binders to Riley Nash, an inventory specialist, at Staples on Arlington Road in Akron on Monday, July 18, 2022.
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This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: When is Ohio's tax free weekend for school clothes, supplies?