How taxes work in Ohio
Sales tax. Ohio charges a 5.75% statewide sales tax, and counties, cities and special districts add their own on top — which is why the average combined rate of about 7.24% is the number that matters at the till. Groceries (food for off-premises consumption) are exempt from Ohio sales tax.
Property tax. At an average effective rate of about 1.56%, a $350,000 home in Ohio carries roughly $5,460 a year in property tax before exemptions. Ohio is a high-property-tax state — factor the tax bill into affordability, not just the mortgage payment. Local assessors set actual bills, so verify with the county for any specific property.
Income tax. Moving to a flat 2.75% income tax; many cities levy local income taxes. If you are self-employed in Ohio, you still owe federal self-employment tax plus quarterly state estimates where applicable.
Sales tax · average combined
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How Ohio compares with similar states
The states closest to Ohio on average combined sales tax. Property tax is the average effective rate; income tax shows the structure, not a single rate.
| State | Combined sales tax | Property tax | Income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio (this page) | 7.24% | 1.56% | Progressive |
| South Carolina | 7.46% | 0.53% | Progressive |
| Georgia | 7.38% | 0.92% | Flat |
| Utah | 7.19% | 0.57% | Flat |
| Mississippi | 7.07% | 0.79% | Progressive |
| All-state average (51 entries) | 6.61% | 1.04% | — |
What this means for your money in Ohio
Property tax is the heavy line in Ohio. At an average effective rate of 1.56% — rank 10 of 51, against an all-state average of 1.04% — a $400,000 home carries about $6,240 a year, roughly $520 a month. Because lenders collect property tax through escrow, it raises the monthly mortgage payment directly; affordability calculations that use only principal and interest understate the cost of owning here.
Read together: Ohio combines an average combined sales tax of 7.24% (rank 20 of 51), an average effective property tax of 1.56% (rank 10 of 51) and progressive income tax brackets. A household comparing states should compare all three against its own pattern — a high earner who rents weighs the income tax most; a homeowner on a fixed income weighs the property tax most.
Major cities in Ohio
Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron. Combined sales-tax rates differ between these cities — sometimes by more than a full percentage point inside the same state — because county and city layers stack on the state base. The Ohio sales tax guide breaks down the calculation and links the calculator where you can enter your exact local rate.
Calculators for Ohio residents
- Ohio Sales Tax Guide & Examples — what you actually pay, with worked amounts.
- Sales Tax & VAT Calculator — add or extract tax at any rate, including your exact Ohio local rate.
- Mortgage Calculator — include Ohio property tax in the monthly payment.
- Property Tax Calculator — estimate a specific property's bill.
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator — federal SE tax for Ohio freelancers.