
When is Ohio's sales tax holiday? What items are eligible?
Ohio's sales tax holiday for 2025 will be Aug. 1-14, Gov. Mike DeWine announced on May 30.
'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.
During the holiday, shoppers will be able to make qualifying purchases both in-store and online without paying state sales tax. Almost all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less is tax-free.
Here are some examples of items that will be tax-free:
Electronics: Computers, televisions, and other gadgets
Clothing: Any apparel items
Books: All types, including novels and textbooks
Home Goods: Furniture, kitchenware, and home decor
Plants: Indoor and outdoor plants
Sporting Goods: Equipment and apparel for sports
Food and Beverages: Dine-in food, dietary supplements, and soft drinks
Note: These are just examples. Many other items will also be exempt from sales tax during this period.
Stay up to date: Sign up for The Scoop, our weekly newsletter on Ohio politics
The tax exemption does not apply to services or to purchases of motor vehicles, watercraft, outboard motors, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, or any item containing marijuana.
For full details, including eligible items and frequently asked questions, visit the Ohio Department of Taxation's Sales Tax Holiday page. You can also contact the Department by email or by calling 1-888-405-4039.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio sales tax holiday 2025: When is it? What items will be included?
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
L&I assists thousands with unemployment compensation claims
Jun. 1—WILKES-BARRE — Now in its third year, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's (L&I) UC Connect program continues to provide essential, in-person assistance to Pennsylvanians looking for help navigating the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system. Since its launch in May 2022, UC Connect has helped more than 106,000 Pennsylvanians resolve claims, navigate eligibility issues, and connect to community-based resources, helping more than 700 people in April 2025 alone. Offered at PA CareerLink locations statewide, UC Connect appointments are tailored to claimants who lack reliable internet, are unfamiliar with digital systems, or need language support. With sustained demand for in-person help, L&I has embedded UC Connect into its long-term customer service model. "As UC Connect enters its third year, it remains a necessary and effective tool for delivering unemployment services equitably," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "In-person support ensures that no Pennsylvanian is left out of the system simply because they don't have access to broadband or need help understanding the process. L&I has expanded UC Connect's services and took the initiative statewide, and it's clear that our efforts are making a difference in delivering faster, better service for Pennsylvanians." After initially launched as a pilot program in 2022, UC Connect was made a permanent service through bipartisan investments in the 2023 — 24 budget, enabling L&I to hire more than 380 UC interviewers to expand service delivery across Pennsylvania. Unemployment Compensation system update The Department first eliminated a backlog of 40,000 claims from the pandemic era — each requiring case-by-case review — within seven months. The Department then shifted focus to scaling up staff, reducing wait times, and improving access for all Pennsylvanians. Key service highlights from April 2025 include: —Average call wait time was reduced to 18 minutes and 56 seconds. —5,321 live chat sessions were completed—an increase from the same time last year —44,077 new UC claims were filed —$157 million in UC benefits was paid to 99,518 individuals —86,616 helpline calls were answered —13,965 email inquiries were processed —709 individuals received in-person assistance through UC Connect Since the beginning of 2025, L&I has paid out $784 million in UC benefits to more than 483,000 individuals, responded to 361,258 helpline calls, and provided 3,112 UC Connect appointments. Risk-limiting audit of 2025 primary election begins The Department of State this week began Pennsylvania's statewide risk-limiting election audit (RLA) of the May 20 primary. "This is our sixth statewide risk-limiting audit since the 2022 general election," Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. "RLAs are proven to be the highest standard of comprehensive election audits because the RLA process provides a statistically sound, scientific method for confirming, with a high degree of confidence, that the reported outcome of the audited election is accurate." Schmidt said 10 Department employees took turns rolling 10-sided dice to deliver the random 20-digit "seed number," which is used to determine which batches of ballots counties will audit over the next several days. A random-selection drawing on May 23, resulted in the selection of the contest for the Republican nomination for Judge of Commonwealth Court for this RLA. During the audit, county officials will hand-tally the randomly selected ballot batches, then compare those vote counts to the original machine counts for the selected race. Known as a "batch comparison" type of RLA, this pre-certification audit can confirm whether counties accurately tabulated paper ballots so that a full hand count would produce the same reported outcome. The RLA will be carried out in addition to the 2% statutorily required review that counties must perform after each primary and general election in Pennsylvania. For that review, county officials are required to conduct a statistical recount of a random sample of at least 2% of all ballots cast, or 2,000 ballots, whichever is fewer. Counties must complete the RLA by June 5, and they must certify all election results to Schmidt by June 9. Fetterman joins push to return stolen art to Holocaust survivors U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, is pushing legislation to help survivors of the Holocaust and their families reclaim tens of thousands of pieces of artwork stripped from them by the Nazis. The bill, sponsored by Fetterman and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, attempts to smooth the legal process for these survivors or their heirs as they petition the courts for return of the art, according to a news release. Though Congress passed a bill with the same aim nearly a decade ago, some museums, institutions and governments have stonewalled and battled families in their reclamation efforts, Fetterman's office said. "Some 80 years after the Holocaust, we have a moral responsibility to do right by the victims of these atrocities and their families," Fetterman said in a statement. The proposal extends the original Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, which is set to expire at the end of 2026. Recognizing the difficulty of tracking down artwork stolen during the Holocaust, Congress in 2016 passed the act to give families six years to file a legal claim for a piece after they've located it. The new bill backed by Fetterman also seeks to make sure families' court claims get fair consideration on their merits rather than being dismissed over technicalities, the release stated. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany seized hundreds of thousands of pieces of artwork from Jewish people. While the U.S. and other allied nations have tried to restore these valuables to their rightful owners, more than 100,000 pieces still have not been given back, according to Fetterman's office. Fetterman is co-sponsoring the bill introduced by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut. DCNR: Free menstrual products available in 68 state parks Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week was joined by First Lady Lori Shapiro and members of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement to announce a new initiative that makes free menstrual products available in 68 state parks across Pennsylvania. The products are now stocked in park offices, visitor centers, and environmental educational centers at participating parks, offering a convenient and essential resource for visitors. Signage in English and Spanish helps park-goers locate where products are available. This effort is part of the Shapiro Administration's broader work to make public spaces across the Commonwealth more accessible and supportive for all. The announcement coincides with Menstrual Hygiene Day — highlighting the importance of addressing period poverty through public policy and access. "I've been so inspired by all the young women I've met who are making their voices heard and starting conversations on period poverty — talking so comfortably about something that, for so long, has been a taboo subject," said First Lady Shapiro. "Thanks to them speaking up, Pennsylvania has taken some major steps to ensure more women have access to basic hygiene supplies throughout the day. I want everyone to be able to enjoy their time outdoors, and DCNR's work to get free menstrual products in the bathrooms and visitor offices of our state parks is critical to making our outdoor spaces welcoming to everyone." "No one should have to cut an outdoor adventure short because of their period — DCNR has you covered," said Secretary Dunn. "We are committed to creating inclusive, welcoming outdoor spaces — and that means meeting people's basic needs without stigma or barriers." DCNR will evaluate the program's success and expand it to additional park locations in the future. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
When is Ohio's sales tax holiday? What items are eligible?
Ohio's sales tax holiday for 2025 will be Aug. 1-14, Gov. Mike DeWine announced on May 30. '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. During the holiday, shoppers will be able to make qualifying purchases both in-store and online without paying state sales tax. Almost all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less is tax-free. Here are some examples of items that will be tax-free: Electronics: Computers, televisions, and other gadgets Clothing: Any apparel items Books: All types, including novels and textbooks Home Goods: Furniture, kitchenware, and home decor Plants: Indoor and outdoor plants Sporting Goods: Equipment and apparel for sports Food and Beverages: Dine-in food, dietary supplements, and soft drinks Note: These are just examples. Many other items will also be exempt from sales tax during this period. Stay up to date: Sign up for The Scoop, our weekly newsletter on Ohio politics The tax exemption does not apply to services or to purchases of motor vehicles, watercraft, outboard motors, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, or any item containing marijuana. For full details, including eligible items and frequently asked questions, visit the Ohio Department of Taxation's Sales Tax Holiday page. You can also contact the Department by email or by calling 1-888-405-4039. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio sales tax holiday 2025: When is it? What items will be included?

Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
County awarded $15 million to help fund new jail
JEFFERSON — After years of chasing grants, Ashtabula County finally came up a winner Friday, as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a $15 million grant for the construction of a new jail. 'The Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners and Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi are proud to announce the successful acquisition of $15 million in state funding toward the construction of a new county jail,' a press release from the commissioners said. The grant money will be matched by $15 million the commissioners have saved towards the project, the commissioners said at previous meetings. Niemi, in consultation with the commissioners, decided a new jail just north of the present one on county property would be the most financially-expedient plan. The funding is through the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program, which was launched by DeWine in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly in 2021 to help local communities fund improvements at functionally obsolete and structurally failing jails, according to a press release from DeWine's office. 'This funding will not only support safer environments for those living and working in our local jails, but it will also help prepare inmates for release by creating improved spaces for workforce development, educational opportunities, and other programming,' DeWine said in the release. The commissioners have been working with Niemi to find the best solution to the current county jail, which is too small, and has been deteriorating. 'I can't tell you what a relief this is, for all the hard work we put into it,' Niemi said. He said the current jail not only has functional problems, but is too small to allow programming that would hopefully reduce recidivism. 'We don't have the space to bring the counselors in,' Niemi said. He said the increased space will allow inmates to have a fuller evaluation and hopefully find their way to the right path. 'This is a transformational moment for Ashtabula County,' Commissioner JP Ducro said in the commissioners' press release. 'This funding allows us to move forward. It is a testament to the persistence of county leaders, the support of our sheriff, and the responsible planning that made a local match possible. I am especially pleased that we can now build a facility that should help reduce recidivism and be much more operationally efficient for decades to come.' The current jail was constructed in 1978 and has long been outdated and insufficient to meet the demands of law enforcement, county leaders have said during the last year of discussions and debate. 'This is a major win. We're incredibly grateful to the state for awarding the full amount of our grant request,' Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said in the release. 'This funding allows us to move forward with the jail project; finally addressing a decades long issue in Ashtabula County.' 'Securing this funding is a major step forward for our county. This project isn't just about building a new facility — it's about making a smart investment in public safety, creating a safe environment for inmates and staff and serving the needs of our community,' Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said in the release. Niemi said in the release Friday was a historic day for the county. 'The new facility will give us the tools we need to run a secure, effective operation and provide the level of care and accountability the people of this county expect,' he said in the release. 'I thank the commissioners, our partners at the state level, and the people of Ashtabula County for supporting this long-overdue step forward.' The new jail will also be helpful for law enforcement agencies and other county courts and departments. 'That is great news,' Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell said. 'That is sure to be good for all the [police] departments including ours.' He said there have been crowding issues at the county jail for 10 years, which caused city jails to fill up for longer periods of time. The proposed new jail design would house 209 inmates and take approximately three years to build. Niemi said meetings to discuss the next steps toward construction will start very soon.