Ohio: Income Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Corporate Tax | Ohio Excise Taxes

Ohio State Excise Taxes 2024 - Fuel, Cigarette, and Alcohol Taxes

Gasoline:
28.00¢ per gallon		 Cigarettes:
$1.25 per pack		 Liquor:
$9.34 per gal		 Wine:
32¢ per gal		 Beer:
18¢ per gal

What is an Excise Tax?

An excise tax is a tax directly levied on certain goods by a state or federal government. The most prominent excise taxes collected by the Ohio state government are the fuel tax on gasoline and the so-called "sin tax" collected on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

An excise tax is not the same thing as the Ohio Sales Tax.

The Ohio Sales Tax is collected as a percentage of the final purchase price of all qualifying sales, and is collected directly from the end consumer of the product.

Ohio's excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the Ohio government by the merchant before the goods can be sold. Merchants may be required to attach tax stamps to taxable merchandise to show that the excise tax was paid.

Even though excise taxes are collected from businesses, virtually all Ohio merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.

Ohio per capita excise tax

Ohio collects an average of $438 in yearly excise taxes per capita, lower then 52% of the other 50 states.

Ohio General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Ohio collects general excise taxes on the sale of motor fuel (gasoline and diesel), cigarettes (per pack), and cell phone service plans. Other general taxes, similar to excise taxes, may be collected on other items including vehicle sales, tanning salons, gas guzzlers, transportation tickets, firearms, and more.

Gas sales tax in Ohio - Ohio oil and gasoline excise taxes

Ohio Gas Tax

21st highest gas tax

The Ohio excise tax on gasoline is 28.00¢ per gallon, higher then 58% of the other 50 states. Ohio's excise tax on gasoline is ranked #21 out of the 50 states. The Ohio gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Ohio.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Ohio - Ohio cigarette excise taxes

Ohio Cigarette Tax

28th highest cigarette tax

The Ohio excise tax on cigarettes is $1.25 per 20 cigarettes, lower then 56% of the other 50 states. Ohio's excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #28 out of the 50 states. The Ohio cigarette tax of $1.25 is applied to every 20 cigarettes sold (the size of an average pack of cigarettes). If a pack contains more then 20 cigarettes, a higher excise tax will be collected.

Tax on phone service in Ohio - Ohio phone taxes

Ohio Cellphone Tax

33rd highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Ohio is $7.95 per phone service plan, lower then 66% of the other 50 states. Ohio's average cellphone tax is ranked #33 out of the 50 states. The Ohio cellphone tax is already included in the service plan price you pay to your service provider, and may be listed as "Misc. taxes and Fees" or "Other" on your monthly bill.

Automobile / Vehicle Tax In Ohio - Ohio car road tax

Ohio Car Tax

Ohio collects a registration fee and a title fee on the sale or transfer of cars and motorcycles, which are essentially renamed excise taxes. Unlike standard excise taxes, however, the end consumer must pay the tax directly to the Ohio Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.

Ohio Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

Ohio collects special excise taxes on the sale of all types of alcohol, subdivided into specific taxes on wine, beer, and liquor (hard alcohol other then wine and beer). Alcohol taxes are sometimes collectively referred to as "sin taxes", which also include excise taxes on cigarettes, gambling, drugs, and certain other items.

Please note that the IRS also collects a federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, which are included separately from Ohio's alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.

Tax on beer in Ohio - Ohio beer excise taxes

Ohio Beer Tax

32nd highest beer tax

The Ohio excise tax on beer is $0.18 per gallon, lower then 64% of the other 50 states. Ohio's beer excise tax is ranked #32 out of the 50 states. The Ohio beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Ohio, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Ohio - Ohio wine excise taxes

Ohio Wine Tax

38th highest wine tax

The Ohio excise tax on Wine is $0.32 per gallon, lower then 76% of the other 50 states. Ohio's excise tax on wine is ranked #38 out of the 50 states. The Ohio wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Ohio.

Tax on buying liquor in Ohio - Ohio Liquor & Spirits excise taxes

Ohio Liquor Tax

12th highest liquor tax

The Ohio excise tax on liquor is $9.34 per gallon, higher then 76% of the other 50 states. Ohio's excise tax on Spirits is ranked #12 out of the 50 states. Because all liquor stores in Ohio are state-owned, excise taxes for hard alcohol sales are set by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). The Ohio liquor tax applies to all hard alcohol (alchoholic beverages other then beer and wine), and is already included in the purchase price by the retailer.

Ohio Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Ohio Excise taxes?

Unlike the Ohio Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on Ohio income tax returns or on your federal tax return. However, the IRS occasionally allows certain excise taxes to be deducted for certain tax years.

Vehicle Tax Deduction
Ohio sales and excise taxes on cars or vehicles bought during 2009 may be deducted once from your federal tax return. You cannot deduct excise taxes for vehicles bought during other years.
Phone Tax Deduction
You may deduct excise taxes paid on long-distance phone calls between the years of 2003 and 2006 from your federal tax return.

Can I get a Ohio Excise Tax Refund?

While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in Ohio and exported, Ohio excise taxes paid on goods are generally non-refundable. Incentives may exist allowing certain state of federal excise taxes to be refunded on goods bought for specific uses, but such incentives change frequently.

Has this free tax information helped you? Like us on Facebook for useful tax tips!
Get Exclusive Tax Tips. Sign up for the free Tax-Rates.org Mailing List for access to important tax updates from the IRS, tips on making the most of your tax deductions, and exclusive tax assistance.

Ohio Excise Tax - References

Go To Top »