While state lawmakers debate whether to temporarily suspend Ohio's gas tax, shoppers already receive another tax break of sorts every time they visit the grocery store.
Most grocery items bought to eat at home aren't subject to Ohio sales tax. That means that some are. Here's what shoppers should know before their next grocery trip.
Does Ohio charge sales tax on food?
Most food in Ohio isn't taxed when it's purchased to eat somewhere other than where you bought it, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation. Additionally, if you pick up food at a drive-thru, you typically won't pay sales tax on the food itself.
However, those eating food inside a restaurant, for example, will see taxes applied to your meal.
Still, most of the items on your grocery list won't be taxed, per the Department
of Taxation, including:
- Bottled, unsweetened water
- Ice (sold at grocery, convenience or similar stores)
- Fruit or vegetable juice with fruit or vegetable content of more than 50%
- Chewing gum and breath mints
- Sweetened beverages that contain milk, a milk product or milk substitute
Certain items such as soft drinks are taxed because Ohio doesn't consider them "food" for sales-tax purposes, even when they're purchased with a meal. Other non-food taxable purchases include tobacco products, clothing, such as jeans, and products like Blu-ray DVDs.
What food items won't be taxed in Ohio?
Certain food items usually aren't taxed. Here are a few examples.
- Apples
- Potato chips
- Gum
- Bottled unsweetened water
- Ice
- Fruit or vegetable juice containing more than 50% juice
- Breath mints
- Sweetened beverages containing milk, milk products or milk substitutes
How much is sales tax in Ohio?
Ohio's state sales tax rate is 5.75%, according to the Department of Taxation.
Local taxes can push the total sales tax rate to anywhere from 6.5% to 8%, depending on where you're shopping. Counties and regional transit authorities can add local taxes on top of the base tax rate, bringing the total sales tax up to 8.75%.
Eight states tax groceries
Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana won't charge sales tax for most of what you buy at the grocery store. However, several states charge anywhere between 1.225% and 6.0% sales tax for groceries, according to Kiplinger:
- Alabama
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma recently removed grocery taxes, Kiplinger reports.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Are groceries taxed in Ohio? Most food isn't, but you have to pay for these
