Portsmouth, Ohio Sales Tax Rate
Buying in Portsmouth? Because it is located in Scioto County, the combined sales tax rate is 7.25%. Below is the full breakdown and a calculator preset to Portsmouth's rate.
- Ohio state base5.75%
- Scioto County & transit1.50%
- Total you pay7.25%
Portsmouth sits in Scioto County, so its combined rate is 7.25% — Ohio's 5.75% state base plus 1.50% in Scioto County and transit tax. That is the rate on an in-store purchase in Portsmouth, and the rate an out-of-state or marketplace seller charges on an order delivered here — an Ohio seller shipping from another county charges its own county's rate instead, because Ohio sources intrastate sales to the vendor. A $50.00 taxable item runs $53.63 out the door. Unprepared groceries and prescription drugs are exempt statewide, so they stay untaxed in Portsmouth no matter the local rate. Compare this against every other Ohio county rate.
Portsmouth has a population of about 20,409, making it the 54th largest of the 61 Ohio cities tracked here. It sits in Scioto County, and its 1 ZIP code falls inside that county, so every address in Portsmouth is taxed at 7.25%.
Portsmouth ZIP codes at 7.25%
- 45662
How Portsmouth compares to nearby cities
| City | Distance | County | Rate | vs Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | — | Scioto | 7.25% | — |
| Chillicothe | 41.6 mi | Ross | 7.25% | same |
| Wilmington | 66.5 mi | Clinton | 7.25% | same |
| Batavia | 66.6 mi | Clermont | 6.75% | -0.50% |
| Lancaster | 71.1 mi | Fairfield | 6.75% | -0.50% |
Batavia, about 66.6 miles away in Clermont County, charges 6.75% — 0.50% less than Portsmouth. On a $1,000.00 purchase that is a $5.00 difference. Vehicles are the exception: they are taxed at your county of residence, not where you buy or register them.
Calculate tax in Portsmouth
Portsmouth sales tax by purchase amount
| Purchase | Sales Tax (7.25%) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.07 | $1.07 |
| $5.00 | $0.36 | $5.36 |
| $10.00 | $0.73 | $10.73 |
| $25.00 | $1.81 | $26.81 |
| $50.00 | $3.63 | $53.63 |
| $100.00 | $7.25 | $107.25 |
| $500.00 | $36.25 | $536.25 |
| $1,000.00 | $72.50 | $1,072.50 |
Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt statewide, so they carry $0 tax in Portsmouth. Prepared food and general merchandise are taxed at 7.25%.
Portsmouth sales tax FAQ
The combined sales tax rate in Portsmouth is 7.25% in 2026. This is based on its location in Scioto County, which adds a 1.50% county and transit portion to Ohio's 5.75% state base rate.
At 7.25%, sales tax on a $100 taxable purchase in Portsmouth is $7.25, for a total of $107.25.
No. Unprepared groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from Ohio sales tax statewide, so they are not taxed in Portsmouth. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxable at 7.25%.
Portsmouth covers 1 ZIP code (45662), and all of them fall in Scioto County, so every one is taxed at 7.25%. A ZIP can straddle a county line, so for a specific street address confirm with Ohio's own address lookup.
Yes — Batavia is about 66.6 miles away in Clermont County at 6.75%, and Lancaster is about 71.1 miles away in Fairfield County at 6.75%. Ohio sources sales tax to where the sale happens for in-store purchases, so buying there does mean the lower rate. It does not work for vehicles: those are taxed at the rate of your county of residence, not where you buy or register them.
Explore Ohio cities beyond Portsmouth
Need a different calculation? Try the reverse sales tax calculator or the car sales tax calculator.
Shipping somewhere specific? Use the Ohio ZIP code sales tax lookup to confirm the rate for any ZIP code in Scioto County.
Not sure what's taxable? Read what is taxable in Ohio, Ohio sales tax exemptions, or how to calculate Ohio sales tax.