Tax-free holiday
From Friday, Aug. 3 at 12a.m. to Sunday, Aug. 5 at 11:59p.m., shoppers in Ohio won’t have to pay sales tax on clothing costing less than $75 per item and school supplies and instructional materials costing less than $20 per item. This includes all Ohio purchases both at physical stores and online. While the tax holiday started in 2015, Governor John Kasich signed Sub. Senate Bill 226 earlier this year, making the tax-free weekend a permanent event occurring on the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of August each year. The language appears in Ohio Revised Code (RC) 5739.02(B)(56).
On Tuesday, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued a press release providing consumer protection tips for the sales tax holiday and other back to school shopping. The press release provides useful information for shoppers and a link to the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Sales Tax Holiday FAQ.
Tax exemption for teachers purchasing computers
In addition to the sales tax holiday don’t forget that RC 5739.02(B)(37) provides individuals licensed or certified to teach in an elementary or secondary school in Ohio with a sales tax exemption for the purchase of computers and related computer equipment used by that individual in preparation for teaching elementary or secondary school students. Individuals taking advantage of this exemption must provide an exemption certification form as described in Ohio Administrative Code section 5703-9-03. More information on this exemption is available through the Ohio Department of Taxation's website.