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Back-to-School Shopping Tips

August 4, 2016

Ohio’s sales tax holiday is Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 7, 2016, when certain clothes and school supplies are exempt from sales tax. Whenever you plan to shop, we’re offering tips to help you understand your rights and make the most of your purchases.

During the sales tax holiday, the following items generally are exempt from sales tax:

  • Clothing priced at $75 per item or less
  • School supplies priced at $20 per item or less
  • School instructional materials priced at $20 or less
Learn more about the tax holiday from the Ohio Department of Taxation.

Protect yourself in any consumer transaction by following these tips:
  • Check the exclusions and limitations of an offer. Exclusions and limitations must be clearly disclosed in advertisements, including online, so review terms and conditions carefully before you go to the store or make a purchase.
  • Find out if rain checks apply. If a seller advertises a product at a certain price but sells out of that product by the time you respond to the ad, you may have the right to a rain check. However, sellers are not required to provide rain checks if they clearly disclose the number of goods available at that price or if they clearly state that no rain checks will be given.
  • Understand return policies before you buy. In Ohio, sellers can choose to set their own return policies, including policies of “no returns,” but they should clearly tell you what their return policy is before you check out or complete the transaction. (For example, the return policy shouldn’t be posted only on the back of a receipt.)
  • Keep your receipts. Maintaining a complete record of a sale will help you handle problems that may arise after the purchase. Keep copies of receipts, sales agreements, advertisements, photos of products, or other documentation of a sale until the transaction and billing process are complete.
  • Monitor your accounts. Regularly check your credit card and bank accounts for unauthorized charges or unexpected activity. If you find problems, immediately notify your credit card provider or bank. The sooner you identify a problem, the sooner you can work to correct it.
  • Watch for scams. Con artists operate year round. If you receive a message saying you’ve won the lottery, the IRS is coming to arrest you, or a family member is out of the country and in need of money immediately, it’s likely a scam.