Ohio Statutory Interest 2026: How the 7% Rate Is Calculated

7% for 2026: How Ohio Sets Its Statutory Interest Rate Each Year

Ohio is one of a handful of states that recalculates its statutory interest rate every calendar year. Unlike Pennsylvania's fixed 6% or California's fixed 10%, Ohio's rate floats with federal short-term interest — but only once a year, and only after the Ohio Tax Commissioner certifies the number.

For calendar year 2026, the Ohio Tax Commissioner certified the statutory interest rate at 7% per year. That rate applies to money judgments entered in 2026 that do not arise from a written contract specifying a different lawful rate. It also governs pre-judgment statutory interest in qualifying contexts where § 1343.03(A) applies and no contract rate controls.

The annual certification process is mandatory. Under ORC § 5703.47, the Tax Commissioner must determine and certify the rate of interest to apply during the following calendar year before October 15 of each year. The certified rate is published on the Ohio Department of Taxation website at tax.ohio.gov, including the dedicated annual certified interest rates page at https://tax.ohio.gov/annual-certified-interest-rates. Practitioners should bookmark that page and verify the rate for the judgment entry year before preparing payoff letters, garnishment affidavits, or settlement demand calculations.

Why the rate dropped in 2026: The federal short-term rate as defined by 26 U.S.C. § 1274 fell enough that, when rounded to the nearest whole number and combined with Ohio's fixed 3-percentage-point add-on, the result was 4% + 3% = 7%. In 2024 and 2025, the same formula produced 5% + 3% = 8%. The one-percentage-point decline from 8% to 7% is modest in absolute terms but meaningful on large balances — on $100,000, the difference is $1,000 per year in simple interest.

What 7% means in daily dollars: A $50,000 judgment at 7% accrues approximately $9.59 per day in simple interest ($50,000 × 0.07 ÷ 365 ≈ $9.59). On $100,000 at 7%, daily accrual is approximately $19.18. Creditors use daily burn rates in collection letters because they make delay tangible. Debtors who assume "it's only 7%" on a six-figure judgment discover that every month of non-payment adds roughly $583 on $100,000.

Ohio's statutory interest under ORC § 1343.03(A) applies to judgments on all amounts due on any bond, bill, note, or other instrument of writing, and on judgments rendered in any court of record in this state — unless the instrument or contract specifies a different rate. That broad scope covers most civil money judgments where the parties did not contract for a specific interest rate in writing.

The 2026 rate does not retroactively change prior judgments. If your judgment was entered in 2024 when the certified rate was 8%, that judgment continues at 8% under ORC § 1343.03(B) until fully satisfied. The 2026 rate of 7% applies only to judgments entered in 2026 (and to pre-judgment accrual in qualifying 2026 contexts where no contract rate applies). This fixed-at-judgment rule is one of the most commonly misunderstood features of Ohio interest law.

Comparison to neighboring states on $100,000 for one year (simple interest, planning rates): — Pennsylvania: 6% → $6,000 — Virginia: 6% → $6,000 — Ohio 2026: 7% → $7,000 — North Carolina: 8% → $8,000 — Illinois: 9% → $9,000 — Maryland: 10% → $10,000

Ohio sits in the moderate range — higher than Pennsylvania and Virginia, lower than the mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes states with 8% or above. The variable annual certification means Ohio practitioners must check the rate table every January, not memorize a single number.

Official sources for verification: — Ohio Department of Taxation annual certified interest rates: https://tax.ohio.gov/annual-certified-interest-rates — Ohio Revised Code: https://codes.ohio.gov (search ORC § 1343.03 and § 5703.47) — TheLegalCalc Ohio statutory interest calculator: /statutory-interest-calculator/ohio

When planning a 2026 judgment or collection strategy, start with 7% as the default statutory rate. Then immediately ask whether a written contract rate applies, whether the judgment was entered in a prior year at a different certified rate, and whether the claim type triggers any exception. The 7% figure is the starting point — not always the ending point.

The Formula: Federal Short-Term Rate + 3% (ORC § 5703.47)

Ohio's statutory interest rate is not set by the General Assembly each year. It is computed mechanically from a federal rate and a fixed Ohio add-on, then certified by the Tax Commissioner under ORC § 5703.47.

The statutory formula, as implemented through § 5703.47 and applied to judgments under ORC § 1343.03, works as follows:

Step 1 — Identify the federal short-term rate as defined by 26 U.S.C. § 1274. This is the applicable federal rate used in tax and lending contexts, published by the Internal Revenue Service. Ohio law references this specific federal definition — not the Federal Reserve's discount rate, not the prime rate, and not the Wall Street Journal prime.

Step 2 — Round the federal short-term rate to the nearest whole number. If the rate is 4.3%, it rounds to 4%. If it is 4.6%, it rounds to 5%. This rounding step is where small movements in federal rates can flip Ohio's certified rate by a full percentage point.

Step 3 — Add 3 percentage points. Ohio's legislature fixed this add-on in the statute. It does not change year to year. The add-on is what separates Ohio's judgment rate from the underlying federal short-term rate.

Step 4 — The Tax Commissioner certifies the resulting rate before October 15 for the following calendar year. The certified rate is published at tax.ohio.gov and becomes the rate under ORC § 1343.03 for judgments entered in that calendar year.

Worked examples of the formula in recent years: — Federal short-term rate rounds to 0% → 0% + 3% = 3% (2022 certified rate) — Federal short-term rate rounds to 2% → 2% + 3% = 5% (2023 certified rate) — Federal short-term rate rounds to 5% → 5% + 3% = 8% (2024 and 2025 certified rates) — Federal short-term rate rounds to 4% → 4% + 3% = 7% (2026 certified rate)

The 2022-2026 arc tells a story about interest rate cycles. When federal short-term rates were near zero in the early 2020s, Ohio's certified rate bottomed at 3% — the lowest rate in this five-year window. As the Federal Reserve raised rates aggressively in 2022-2023, the federal short-term rate climbed, and Ohio's certified rate rose to 5% in 2023 and 8% in 2024-2025. The modest decline to 7% in 2026 reflects a slight easing in the federal short-term rate that still produces a meaningful rate by historical Ohio standards.

Why Ohio uses this formula instead of a fixed rate: The legislature chose to tie Ohio's judgment interest to federal short-term rates rather than setting a permanent percentage. The policy rationale is that judgment interest should track some measure of the time value of money without requiring annual legislative action. The 3-percentage-point add-on ensures Ohio's rate always exceeds the federal short-term floor — creditors receive a premium above the federal baseline.

Relationship between § 5703.47 and § 1343.03: Section 5703.47 is the certification mechanism. Section 1343.03 is the application mechanism. § 5703.47 tells the Tax Commissioner how to compute and publish the rate; § 1343.03(A) directs courts and parties to apply that certified rate to qualifying judgments and instruments. You cannot understand Ohio judgment interest without both sections.

The October 15 deadline matters for year-end planning. A creditor who obtains a judgment in December 2025 accrues at the 2025 certified rate (8%). A creditor who obtains a judgment in January 2026 accrues at the 2026 certified rate (7%). On a $500,000 judgment, that one-month timing difference in a declining-rate environment saves the debtor $5,000 per year in interest — a real incentive to delay or accelerate judgment entry around rate transitions.

Federal rate sourcing: Practitioners modeling future Ohio rates should monitor IRS publications of applicable federal rates under 26 U.S.C. § 1274. The Tax Commissioner's certification typically follows the federal rate trajectory with a one-year lag built into the October certification cycle. Do not assume you can predict the 2027 rate in August 2026 — wait for the official certification.

Common formula errors: — Using prime rate instead of the § 1274 federal short-term rate — Forgetting to round to the nearest whole number before adding 3% — Applying the current year's certified rate to a judgment entered in a prior year — Confusing § 5703.47's certified rate with § 1343.01's 8% contract cap

Verify every rate against the official Tax Commissioner publication at https://tax.ohio.gov/annual-certified-interest-rates before citing it in court filings or collection documents.

Historical Rates: 2022-2026

Ohio's certified statutory interest rates for calendar years 2022 through 2026 show how federal rate movements translate into judgment accrual on real money. Every practitioner handling Ohio collections should know this table by heart — or at least know where to look it up before every payoff calculation.

Certified rates by calendar year: — 2022: 3% per year — 2023: 5% per year — 2024: 8% per year — 2025: 8% per year — 2026: 7% per year

Each rate was certified by the Ohio Tax Commissioner under ORC § 5703.47 before October 15 of the prior year and published at tax.ohio.gov. The official archive is at https://tax.ohio.gov/annual-certified-interest-rates.

What the historical arc means for creditors and debtors:

2022 at 3% — the low point. Judgments entered in 2022 accrue at 3% until satisfied, regardless of later rate increases. On $100,000, annual interest was only $3,000 — less than half the 2024-2025 rate. Creditors who obtained judgments in 2022 locked in the lowest rate of this five-year period. Debtors who still owe on 2022 judgments benefit from that low fixed rate today.

2023 at 5% — the transition year. The federal rate rise pushed Ohio from 3% to 5%. Judgments entered in 2023 accrue at 5% fixed. On $100,000, that is $5,000 per year — a $2,000 increase over 2022 but still well below the 2024 peak.

2024 and 2025 at 8% — the high point. Two consecutive years at 8% reflect elevated federal short-term rates. Judgments entered in either year lock in at 8% under ORC § 1343.03(B). On $100,000, annual interest is $8,000 — the highest accrual rate in this five-year window. A judgment entered in 2024 continues at 8% in 2026 and beyond, even though the current certified rate dropped to 7%.

2026 at 7% — the modest decline. The one-point drop from 8% to 7% reflects a slight easing in the federal short-term rate used in the § 5703.47 formula. New judgments entered in 2026 accrue at 7%. On $100,000, that is $7,000 per year — $1,000 less than a 2024 or 2025 judgment on the same principal.

Multi-year cost comparison on $100,000 principal (simple interest, full calendar years): — 2022 rate (3%) × 3 years = $9,000 total interest — 2023 rate (5%) × 3 years = $15,000 total interest — 2024 rate (8%) × 3 years = $24,000 total interest — 2025 rate (8%) × 3 years = $24,000 total interest — 2026 rate (7%) × 3 years = $21,000 total interest

The $100,000 judgment entered in 2024 at 8% for three years produces $24,000 in simple interest — a concrete example every Ohio collection attorney should be able to recite. Compare that to the same principal entered in 2022 at 3%: only $9,000 over three years. The $15,000 gap is entirely driven by the rate fixed at judgment entry, not by any change in principal or payment behavior.

Daily burn rates by entry year on $100,000: — 2022 (3%): ≈ $8.22/day — 2023 (5%): ≈ $13.70/day — 2024-2025 (8%): ≈ $21.92/day — 2026 (7%): ≈ $19.18/day

Portfolio implications for collection firms: A firm holding judgments from multiple entry years must track each judgment's rate separately. Applying 7% across the entire portfolio because "that's the 2026 rate" understates accrual on 2024 and 2025 judgments by one percentage point — $1,000 per year per $100,000 of principal. On a portfolio of twenty $100,000 judgments entered in 2024, that error is $20,000 per year.

Rate transition planning: Creditors approaching judgment entry near year-end should compare the current year's certified rate with the upcoming year's rate once the Tax Commissioner publishes the October certification. In a declining-rate environment, delaying judgment entry to January may reduce the fixed rate. In a rising-rate environment, accelerating entry before year-end locks in the lower current rate. Consult Ohio counsel on whether procedural delays are permissible in your case.

The historical table also informs settlement negotiations. A debtor facing a 2024 judgment at 8% has less incentive to settle quickly than a debtor facing a 2022 judgment at 3% — the cost of delay is higher. Conversely, a creditor holding a 2024 judgment at 8% has stronger leverage than one holding a 2022 judgment at 3%. Always state the judgment entry year and the applicable fixed rate in demand letters.

For the complete statutory text and rate certification history, consult https://codes.ohio.gov for ORC § 1343.03 and § 5703.47, and https://tax.ohio.gov/annual-certified-interest-rates for the Tax Commissioner's published rates.

The Rate Is Fixed at Judgment: ORC § 1343.03(B) Explained

The single most expensive mistake in Ohio statutory interest practice is applying the current year's certified rate to a judgment entered in a prior year. ORC § 1343.03(B) forecloses that error explicitly.

Section 1343.03(B) provides that the rate of interest determined by the Tax Commissioner under § 5703.47 and stated in the journal entry of judgment shall remain in effect until the judgment is fully satisfied. Read that sentence carefully: the rate is stated in the judgment entry, and it remains in effect until full satisfaction. It does not update when the Tax Commissioner certifies a new rate for a new calendar year.

Concrete example — the $100,000 judgment entered in 2024: A creditor obtains a money judgment for $100,000 in March 2024. The 2024 certified rate under § 5703.47 was 8%. The journal entry should state 8% per annum. That judgment accrues at 8% in 2024, 2025, 2026, and every subsequent year until paid in full — even though the 2026 certified rate dropped to 7%. The creditor does not lose the 8% rate because Ohio's statutory rate declined. The debtor does not get the benefit of the lower 2026 rate on a 2024 judgment.

Three-year accrual on that $100,000 / 2024 / 8% judgment: Year 1: $100,000 × 0.08 = $8,000 Year 2: $100,000 × 0.08 = $8,000 Year 3: $100,000 × 0.08 = $8,000 Total interest: $24,000 Total payoff (before costs): $124,000

That $24,000 figure is the worked example every Ohio practitioner should know. It is simple interest on fixed principal at the rate locked at judgment entry — not compounded, not recalculated at the current year's rate.

Why the legislature fixed the rate at judgment: Predictability benefits both sides. Creditors know exactly what accrual to expect when they obtain a judgment. Debtors can calculate the cost of delay without guessing whether next year's certified rate will be higher or lower. Courts avoid annual rate-update motions on thousands of outstanding judgments. The tradeoff is that judgments entered in high-rate years (2024-2025 at 8%) continue at elevated rates even when the economy cools.

What the journal entry should contain: The judgment entry should state the rate of interest determined by the Tax Commissioner for the year of entry — e.g., "interest at 8% per annum from the date of this judgment until satisfied." If the entry is silent on rate, practitioners look to the certified rate for the entry year under § 1343.03(A) and § 5703.47. If the entry states an incorrect rate, that stated rate controls under § 1343.03(B) until corrected by order of court.

Partial payments and § 1343.03(B): The fixed rate applies to the unsatisfied balance. When a debtor makes a partial payment credited to principal, future interest accrues at the same fixed rate on the reduced balance. The rate does not change — only the principal base changes.

Example with partial payment on a $100,000 / 2024 / 8% judgment: Year 1: $100,000 × 0.08 = $8,000 accrued Partial payment of $30,000 applied to principal → remaining base $70,000 Year 2: $70,000 × 0.08 = $5,600 accrued Total interest over two years: $13,600 (not $16,000 — the partial payment reduced the base)

Appeals and stays: The fixed rate continues during appeal unless a stay or court order provides otherwise. A debtor who appeals a 2024 judgment without paying does not pause the 8% clock by pointing to the 2026 rate of 7%. Verify whether your appeal bond or supersedeas arrangement affects accrual — that is a separate question from the § 1343.03(B) fixed-rate rule.

Contrast with § 1343.03(A): Subsection (A) establishes what rate applies to qualifying instruments and judgments generally — the Tax Commissioner's certified rate for the applicable year. Subsection (B) locks that rate at the time of judgment entry. Together, they create a system where the rate is determined annually but fixed individually at entry.

Common § 1343.03(B) errors in practice: — Applying 7% (2026 rate) to a 2024 judgment that should accrue at 8% — Assuming the rate "updates" every January 1 on existing judgments — Using the contract rate from § 1343.01 when § 1343.03(B) fixed a different statutory rate at entry — Failing to state the rate in the journal entry, creating ambiguity in payoff disputes

For every outstanding Ohio judgment, identify the entry year, look up the certified rate for that year at https://tax.ohio.gov/annual-certified-interest-rates, and confirm the journal entry matches. That three-step check prevents the most common Ohio interest calculation error.

Statutory Interest vs Contract Interest: Which Rate Applies?

Ohio law provides two parallel interest frameworks that practitioners confuse constantly: the statutory rate under ORC § 1343.03 (certified annually by the Tax Commissioner under § 5703.47) and the contract rate under ORC § 1343.01 (capped at 8% per year for most written agreements). Knowing which lane applies determines whether your accrual is 7%, 8%, or something else entirely.

ORC § 1343.03(A) — the statutory default. Interest on judgments and qualifying instruments accrues at the rate determined annually by the Tax Commissioner under § 5703.47 — 7% for 2026 — unless the instrument or contract specifies a different rate. This is the rate for tort judgments, book accounts, verbal agreements reduced to judgment, and any money judgment where the underlying claim did not arise from a written contract with a specified interest rate.

ORC § 1343.01 — the contract ceiling. When parties agree to interest in a written instrument, or when the statute applies to unpaid money due on written contracts, the lawful annual rate is generally capped at 8% per year. The 8% is a ceiling, not a floor — parties may agree to a lower rate. The contract rate applies before judgment on qualifying written agreements and may survive into the judgment if the claim arose from that written contract.

The critical distinction — "arises from a written contract": — Written promissory note at 6% → judgment accrues at 6% (the contract rate), not the 7% statutory default — Written commercial invoice with 8% default interest clause → judgment accrues at 8% (the contract rate) — Auto accident tort with no contract → judgment accrues at the statutory rate (7% for 2026 entries) — Open book account with no written interest term → statutory rate applies — Verbal agreement reduced to judgment → statutory rate applies

When the contract rate exceeds the statutory rate: A written contract specifying 8% produces higher accrual than the 2026 statutory rate of 7%. Creditors with qualifying written agreements at 8% should ensure the judgment reflects the contract rate, not the lower statutory default. Debtors who assume "Ohio is 7% in 2026" on a contract judgment may understate their exposure by one percentage point.

When the contract rate is below the statutory rate: A promissory note at 5% continues at 5% on the judgment — the debtor does not get upgraded to the 7% statutory rate. The contract rate governs when the claim arose from that written instrument.

When no contract rate applies: Most tort cases, many book accounts, collection cases on accounts without written interest terms, and judgments on verbal agreements use the statutory rate certified for the judgment entry year. For 2026 entries, that is 7%.

The 8% cap under § 1343.01 is not the same as the statutory rate: — § 1343.01 caps what parties may agree to in writing before judgment — § 1343.03 sets what accrues on judgments when no contract rate applies (or when the contract rate is lower) — A 2026 statutory rate of 7% is below the 8% contract cap — both numbers appear in Ohio interest law but serve different functions

Pre-judgment vs post-judgment: Before judgment, contract interest under § 1343.01 may accrue on qualifying written agreements at the agreed rate (up to 8%). After judgment, § 1343.03 governs accrual on the judgment balance — at the contract rate if the claim arose from a written contract specifying that rate, or at the statutory certified rate if not. Model each phase separately with its own start date and rate.

Usury and enforceability: Ohio's 8% cap under § 1343.01 applies to most consumer and commercial written agreements. Certain obligations exceeding $100,000 may allow negotiated rates above 8% in specific commercial contexts. Before applying a contract rate above 8%, confirm enforceability with Ohio counsel. An unenforceable usurious rate may fall back to the statutory default.

Practical decision tree: 1) Does the claim arise from a written contract or instrument specifying an interest rate? — Yes → use the contract rate (verify it does not exceed § 1343.01's cap unless an exception applies) — No → use the statutory rate under § 1343.03 for the judgment entry year 2) Has a judgment been entered? — Yes → the rate is fixed under § 1343.03(B) at the rate stated in the journal entry — No → pre-judgment contract interest may accrue under § 1343.01; statutory interest may accrue under § 1343.03(A) in qualifying contexts 3) What year was the judgment entered? — Look up the certified rate for that year (2022: 3%; 2023: 5%; 2024: 8%; 2025: 8%; 2026: 7%)

Modeling error example — contract at 8%, mistakenly applied 7% statutory rate: On $100,000 for one year: understatement of $1,000 ($7,000 vs $8,000) On $100,000 for three years: understatement of $3,000 ($21,000 vs $24,000)

Reverse error — applying 8% contract rate to a tort judgment with no written contract: On $100,000 for one year: overstatement of $1,000 ($8,000 vs $7,000)

Always read the complaint, the underlying instrument, and the journal entry before selecting a rate. Ohio's dual framework rewards careful classification and punishes assumptions.

Step-by-Step: Calculating Ohio Statutory Interest

Use this sequence for every Ohio statutory interest estimate. The first decision is rate lane: statutory certified rate or contract rate. The second decision is judgment entry year.

Step 1 — Classify the claim: — Tort, book account, verbal agreement, or no written contract rate → statutory rate under § 1343.03 — Written contract, promissory note, or instrument specifying interest → contract rate under § 1343.01 (up to 8% cap) — Mixed or unclear → read the complaint, underlying instrument, and journal entry

Step 2 — Identify the judgment entry date and entry year: The certified rate for the entry year governs under § 1343.03(B). A 2024 entry uses 8%. A 2026 entry uses 7%. Do not use the current calendar year if the judgment was entered earlier.

Step 3 — Confirm the rate: — 2022 entries: 3% — 2023 entries: 5% — 2024 entries: 8% — 2025 entries: 8% — 2026 entries: 7% — Contract claims: rate stated in the written instrument (verify against § 1343.01 cap)

Step 4 — Confirm unpaid principal after credits, partial payments, and court-ordered adjustments.

Step 5 — Count days from the judgment entry date to the proposed payoff date.

Step 6 — Apply the simple-interest formula: Interest = Principal × Rate × (Days ÷ 365)

Step 7 — Add interest to principal for a total payoff estimate (plus any separately ordered costs or fees).

Step 8 — Run the same inputs in /statutory-interest-calculator/ohio as a verification check.

Worked example A — $50,000 statutory judgment entered in 2026 at 7% for two years: $50,000 × 0.07 × 2 = $7,000 interest Daily burn ≈ $9.59 ($50,000 × 0.07 ÷ 365) Payoff estimate before costs: $57,000

Worked example B — $100,000 judgment entered in 2024 at 8% for three years: $100,000 × 0.08 × 3 = $24,000 interest Daily burn ≈ $21.92 ($100,000 × 0.08 ÷ 365) Payoff estimate before costs: $124,000

Worked example C — $100,000 judgment entered in 2026 at 7% for one year: Interest = $7,000 Daily burn ≈ $19.18 A 30-day delay costs about $575

Worked example D — $25,000 statutory judgment entered in 2023 at 5% for two years: $25,000 × 0.05 × 2 = $2,500 interest Daily burn ≈ $3.42 Payoff estimate: $27,500

Worked example E — Partial payment on $100,000 / 2024 / 8% judgment: Year 1: $100,000 × 0.08 = $8,000 accrued $40,000 payment applied to principal → remaining base $60,000 Year 2: $60,000 × 0.08 = $4,800 accrued Total interest over two years: $12,800 (not $16,000)

Worked example F — Contract judgment at 8% on $75,000 for 18 months: $75,000 × 0.08 × (548 ÷ 365) ≈ $8,997.26 interest Compare to statutory 7% on same amount: ≈ $7,872.33 Difference driven entirely by rate lane selection

Daily burn reference at common rates on $100,000: — 3% (2022): ≈ $8.22/day — 5% (2023): ≈ $13.70/day — 7% (2026): ≈ $19.18/day — 8% (2024-2025 or contract cap): ≈ $21.92/day

On $50,000 at 7% (2026): ≈ $9.59/day — the daily figure specified in Ohio planning materials.

Common errors to avoid: — Applying 7% to a 2024 judgment that should accrue at 8% — Using the contract rate when no written contract exists — Compounding interest when Ohio statutory interest is simple — Ignoring partial payments when projecting total payoff — Using prime rate or Federal Reserve rates instead of the § 5703.47 certified rate — Forgetting that the rate is fixed at judgment entry under § 1343.03(B)

Document every input: judgment date, entry year, principal, rate lane (statutory vs contract), certified rate for entry year, day count, and payment credits. Ohio's variable annual rate makes the entry year check essential — without it, even correct arithmetic produces wrong results.

What Happens When a Judgment Spans Multiple Years

Ohio's annual rate certification creates a natural question: if the certified rate changes from 8% in 2025 to 7% in 2026, does an existing judgment's accrual rate change on January 1? The answer under ORC § 1343.03(B) is no — and understanding why prevents costly errors in multi-year collection and payoff planning.

The fixed-rate rule for existing judgments: Once a judgment is entered, the rate stated in the journal entry remains in effect until the judgment is fully satisfied. A judgment entered in 2024 at 8% continues at 8% through 2025, 2026, and every subsequent year. The 2026 certification of 7% affects only new judgments entered in 2026 — not judgments already on the books.

Scenario 1 — Single judgment, single entry year, multiple accrual years: A $200,000 tort judgment entered in June 2024 accrues at 8% (the 2024 certified rate) for every day until paid. In 2025, still 8%. In 2026, still 8%. In 2027, still 8%. The calendar year on the wall does not matter — only the entry year matters.

Three-year accrual: $200,000 × 0.08 × 3 = $48,000 interest Five-year accrual: $200,000 × 0.08 × 5 = $80,000 interest

Scenario 2 — New judgment entered in 2026 at the lower rate: A $200,000 tort judgment entered in March 2026 accrues at 7%. Three-year projection: $200,000 × 0.07 × 3 = $42,000 interest. The $6,000 difference from Scenario 1 over three years is entirely attributable to the one-point rate gap between 2024 and 2026 entry years.

Scenario 3 — Portfolio with judgments from multiple entry years: A collection firm holds: — Judgment A: $100,000 entered 2022 at 3% — Judgment B: $100,000 entered 2024 at 8% — Judgment C: $100,000 entered 2026 at 7%

Annual interest on the portfolio: — Judgment A: $3,000/year — Judgment B: $8,000/year — Judgment C: $7,000/year — Total: $18,000/year on $300,000 principal

Applying a flat 7% to the entire portfolio ($21,000/year) overstates Judgment A by $4,000 and understates Judgment B by $1,000. Each judgment must be tracked individually by entry year and fixed rate.

Scenario 4 — Contract judgment at 8% spanning rate decline: A $150,000 contract judgment entered in 2024 at 8% (the contract rate under § 1343.01) continues at 8% even as the statutory rate drops to 7% in 2026. The contract rate fixed at judgment under § 1343.03(B) is unaffected by statutory rate changes. This is actually favorable to the creditor compared to a pure statutory judgment entered in 2026 at 7%.

Scenario 5 — Pre-judgment interest spanning multiple certified years: Before judgment, qualifying statutory interest under § 1343.03(A) may accrue at the certified rate for each calendar year during the pre-judgment period. If a claim accrues statutory interest from 2024 through 2026 before judgment is entered, the pre-judgment rate may differ by year (8% for 2024-2025 portions, 7% for 2026 portions). Once judgment is entered, § 1343.03(B) fixes the rate at the entry year's certified rate for post-judgment accrual. Model pre-judgment and post-judgment phases separately.

Partial payments across multiple years: The fixed rate does not change when the debtor makes partial payments — only the principal base shrinks. A $100,000 / 2024 / 8% judgment with a $25,000 payment after Year 1 accrues Year 2 interest on $75,000 at the same 8% rate. Document each payment date and the remaining principal after each credit.

Renewal and revival: Ohio judgments have enforcement time limits. If a judgment is renewed or revived, confirm with Ohio counsel whether the interest rate continues at the original fixed rate or whether a new entry date triggers a new certified rate. This is a procedural question that varies by renewal method and court practice.

Settlement across rate environments: A debtor with a 2024 judgment at 8% facing collection in 2026 cannot negotiate based on the current 7% rate. The creditor's walk-away number includes $8,000/year on every $100,000 — not $7,000. Conversely, a creditor holding a 2022 judgment at 3% has weaker accrual leverage than the current 7% rate might suggest.

Rate transition at year-end: Judgments entered in December 2025 accrue at 8%. Judgments entered in January 2026 accrue at 7%. On $500,000, that timing difference is $5,000 per year for the life of the judgment. Both sides should be aware of the October certification when planning trial schedules and judgment entry timing around year boundaries.

Use /statutory-interest-calculator/ohio to model each judgment separately by entry date and rate. For portfolios, run one calculation per judgment and sum the results — never apply one rate to the entire book.

Ohio Tax Commissioner and the Calculator

Ohio statutory interest law is straightforward once you know the rate lane, the judgment entry year, and the fixed-rate rule under § 1343.03(B). These resources put the official numbers at your fingertips.

Primary authorities: — ORC § 1343.03(A) — statutory interest rate on qualifying judgments and instruments (Tax Commissioner's certified rate) — ORC § 1343.03(B) — rate fixed at judgment entry until full satisfaction — ORC § 5703.47 — Tax Commissioner's annual rate certification (before October 15 each year) — ORC § 1343.01 — contract interest cap at 8% per year for most written agreements — 26 U.S.C. § 1274 — federal short-term rate used in the § 5703.47 formula

Ohio Department of Taxation — annual certified interest rates: https://tax.ohio.gov/annual-certified-interest-rates The Tax Commissioner publishes the certified rate for each calendar year on this page. Verify the rate for your judgment entry year before every payoff calculation. The general taxation site at tax.ohio.gov also links to rate publications and related guidance.

Ohio Revised Code — official statutory text: https://codes.ohio.gov Search for ORC § 1343.03, § 1343.01, and § 5703.47. The codes site provides the current enacted text with revision history.

Certified rates quick reference (2022-2026): — 2022: 3% — 2023: 5% — 2024: 8% — 2025: 8% — 2026: 7%

Free planning calculator: /statutory-interest-calculator/ohio

How to use this page with the calculator: 1) Classify the claim: statutory (§ 1343.03) or contract (§ 1343.01) 2) Confirm judgment entry date and look up the certified rate for that year 3) Enter principal, rate, and date range 4) Apply simple interest — no compounding for standard Ohio statutory accrual 5) Account for partial payments by reducing the principal base 6) Verify the result against the journal entry and Tax Commissioner table

Quick reference examples for the calculator: — $50,000 × 7% × 2 years (2026 entry): $7,000 interest, ≈ $9.59/day — $100,000 × 8% × 3 years (2024 entry): $24,000 interest, ≈ $21.92/day — $100,000 × 7% × 1 year (2026 entry): $7,000 interest, ≈ $19.18/day — $25,000 × 5% × 2 years (2023 entry): $2,500 interest

Three numbers every Ohio practitioner should remember: — 7%: the 2026 certified statutory rate under § 5703.47 — 8%: the contract interest cap under § 1343.01 (and the 2024-2025 certified rate) — Fixed at judgment: § 1343.03(B) locks the entry year's rate until full satisfaction

Comparison anchor on $100,000 annual accrual: Pennsylvania 6% ($6,000) | Virginia 6% ($6,000) | Ohio 2026 7% ($7,000) | Ohio 2024 8% ($8,000) | North Carolina 8% ($8,000) | Illinois 9% ($9,000)

Ohio's court system spans municipal courts, county courts of common pleas, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court of Ohio. Statutory interest under § 1343.03 applies broadly to money judgments, but always confirm your specific court order, claim type, and rate lane before relying on a planning estimate.

If you only remember one sentence: Ohio's statutory interest rate is certified annually by the Tax Commissioner under § 5703.47 (7% for 2026), but the rate that governs your judgment is the one fixed at entry under § 1343.03(B) — use the calculator at /statutory-interest-calculator/ohio to model your dates and principal, then verify the rate lane and entry year before treating any figure as a payoff amount.