TOLEDO, Ohio — Ohio's sales tax holiday is making major changes this year.
Rather than lasting only a weekend, the sales tax break will now last 10 days, from Tuesday, July 30 through Thursday, Aug. 8.
The discounts used to only apply to clothes priced at $75 or less and school supplies $20 or less.
This year, all tangible items up to $500 are tax free.
"It's incentive to come in and shop while you can and it's not a one-time thing. So, you can shop here (and) you can shop all the other shops in Perrysburg," said Jane Wurth, owner of Ragazza in downtown Perrysburg and downtown Sylvania.
With high inflation, she said it gives shoppers an incentive to splurge.
"They're going to the store and they're paying $7 for a dozen eggs so then they can't buy that new sweater for fall because they have to save their money for their groceries so this is like a break."
For the first time ever, food will qualify. Customers will have to dine-in at restaurants to receive the sales tax break.
"The way restaurants have been affected by inflation, by raising the price of their food, and goods, and labor has been going up for them, so this is a great opportunity to get people back into restaurants," explained Wendy Gramza, president and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The 10-day tax-free holiday aligns with Toledo's Jeep Fest. Gramza said the perfect timing will be great for small businesses and the state as a whole.
"When they're here they're also shopping, dining, those sorts of things, so it's a great opportunity for them to see the business-friendly policies we have in Ohio."
According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, watercraft, cars, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vapor products, or any items that contain marijuana do not qualify.
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