Ohio penny rounding law

With no Ohio rule for store sales, the calculator applies the nearest-nickel method used by most state laws and the federal bill, or rounding in the customer’s favor. Choose another state to compare.

Ohio law and bills

HB 737 (Reps. Bill Roemer and Thomas Hall), introduced in March 2026, would require cash payments to state and local governments (taxes, tolls, fees and fines) to be rounded to the nearest nickel: 1 and 2 cents down, 3 and 4 up, 6 and 7 down, 8 and 9 up, according to news coverage. It was reportedly referred to the House Ways and Means Committee in March 2026; we found no later action and could not reach the Legislature’s website to confirm. The 136th General Assembly ends December 31, 2026, and bills not passed by then die.

We found no Ohio Department of Taxation guidance on penny rounding.

Can a Ohio store round cash totals?

As store policy, yes. The Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act (R.C. Chapter 1345) bars unfair and deceptive acts, so a store that rounds should post the policy and round both ways. Cincinnati-based Kroger has asked customers to pay with exact change rather than announcing a rounding rule, and Sheetz stores in Ohio have pushed cashless payment and penny donations instead of rounding.

Federal law

There is no federal rounding rule in force either. The Common Cents Act (H.R. 10167) passed Congress on September 28, 2026, but as of October 31, 2026 we found no record of it being signed. If enacted, it would let sellers in Ohio round cash totals symmetrically to the nearest 5¢ without requiring anyone to round, keep pennies legal tender, and protect sellers that follow its method from conflicting state or local rules. Federal status of the penny.

Your options as a customer

• Pay by card, debit, EBT or app. Those payments are charged the exact amount; rounding only ever touches cash.
• Pay with exact change. Pennies are still legal tender (31 U.S.C. § 5103). The Federal Reserve notes, though, that no federal law makes a private business accept cash or coins. We found no Ohio law that changes that, so a store sets its own payment policy. Federal Reserve FAQ.
• Check the receipt. It should show the exact total and a separate rounding line, so you can see which way it went.
• Report a problem. If a store rounds every cash total up without telling customers, contact the Ohio Attorney General, Consumer Protection. See also is it legal for a store to round up?

Sales tax

Ohio’s state sales tax rate is 5.75%, and counties and transit authorities add local taxes; the combined rate cannot exceed 8.75%. Groceries are exempt. Compute tax on the actual price, then round only the cash total. More on sales tax and cash rounding.

SNAP, EBT and card payments

SNAP and WIC benefits are paid electronically, so the EBT part of any purchase in Ohio is always charged to the exact cent. Federal rules require stores to treat SNAP shoppers the same as other customers, so a store that rounds the cash part of a split payment should use the same rule for everyone. SNAP/EBT, cards and refunds.

Stores and local news in Ohio

ABC6 in Columbus reported in October 2025 that Kroger was asking customers to pay with exact change because of the limited penny supply.

Rules in neighboring states

Shopping across the line? Rounding rules change at the border.

Checked against the sources below as of October 31, 2026. Compare every state in the state-by-state tracker.