First Regular Session | 73rd General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyThis issue brief provides a summary of the federal legislation that was passed in response to the COVID‑19, or coronavirus, public health emergency.
When Colorado taxpayers file their 2019 income taxes, they will pay tax at a rate of 4.50 percent, rather than the state’s usual 4.63 percent rate. The rate reduction affects state income tax payments by all taxpayers, including individuals, corporations, non-corporate businesses, and other...
In place of property taxes, Colorado citizens pay the specific ownership tax (SOT) on their vehicles. This issue brief provides an overview of the SOT, describes how the SOT is calculated, lists the SOT exemptions, and describes its collection and distribution.
In 1990, Colorado voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing limited gaming only in the cities of Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek. Limited gaming is defined as “the use of slot machines and the card games of blackjack and poker, each game having a maximum single bet of five...
Transportation infrastructure in the United States is primarily funded through motor fuel (gas) taxes. Facing declining future revenues and increased construction costs, some states have begun to experiment with a new way of funding transportation: the road usage charge. This issue brief...
The state innovative motor vehicle income tax credit is intended to reduce the cost of alternative fuel vehicles and incentivize their purchase. This issue brief describes the income tax credit, most recently modified by House Bill 16-1332, and provides information on the fixed income...
Public K-12 eduction in Colorado is financed in part by local governments and in part by state government. The school finance formula establishes a statewide total funding level. The difference between this amount and the local share determines the state’s obligation to school finance. The...
Senate Bill 17-267, enacted during the 2017 legislative session, changes many aspects of fiscal policy for the state. This issue brief summarizes the bill’s principal components.
In Colorado, sales taxes are imposed by the state government, counties, municipalities, and special districts. Overlapping boundaries create 754 unique tax jurisdictions, many with different tax bases, rates, and administrators. This issue brief summarizes information on how local...
This issue brief provides an overview of filing considerations for military service persons and tax breaks for military income.
Senate Bill 16-197, signed into law on June 10, 2016, makes significant changes to laws regulating the retail sale of fermented malt beverages (3.2 percent alcohol by weight beer, commonly known as 3.2 beer), full-strength beer, wine, and spirits for off-premises consumption. This issue brief...
Colorado levies a 2.9 percent sales tax on purchases of most goods and some services. A complementary use tax is levied when sales tax is due but was not collected. This issue brief provides information on the state use tax and its collection.
This issue brief provides an overview of marijuana tax revenue. Three state taxes apply to marijuana, with medical and retail marijuana taxed differently. Both medical and retail marijuana are subject to the existing 2.9 percent state sales tax, which is applied to most purchases in the state....
In FY 2014-15, the state received $286.0 million from tobacco-related sources. These include taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products and payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. This issue brief describes the sources and uses of this revenue...
Three state taxes apply to marijuana, but medical and retail marijuana are taxed differently. Both medical and retail marijuana are subject to the 2.9 percent state sales tax, which is applied to most purchases in the state. Additionally, retail marijuana is subject to a 10 percent sales tax,...
This issue brief provides information on state enterprises, a special category of government entities created in the Colorado Constitution. The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) specifically defines an "enterprise" as...
In 1992, voters approved an amendment to the Colorado Constitution — Article X, Section 20 — known as the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). TABOR limits annual growth in state spending.
This issue brief provides information on mechanisms used to refund revenue in excess of the state's constitutional spending limit. For information on the state spending limit and how it is calculated, please refer to Issue Brief 14-03A.
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires voter approval of any new taxes. Prior to voter approval, it also requires that voters receive estimates of state spending without new taxes and the new tax revenue. Proposition AA, which authorized the 10 percent sales tax and the 15 percent...
Colorado's individual income tax form allows a taxpayer to make a voluntary contribution to any one of 15 funds, each of which benefits a program or charitable organization (organization). This issue brief provides information on the income tax "checkoff" program and the selection of...
The individual income tax is the largest source of General Fund revenue, accounting for 60 percent of General Fund collections in FY 2013-14. This issue brief provides a brief history of Colorado income tax rates, discusses the general process for determining Colorado’s individual income tax,...
In response to natural disasters that have hit Colorado in recent years, the General Assembly has enacted a number of tax breaks aimed at mitigating or relieving the impact of these disasters on taxpayers. Tax breaks can take a number of different forms, such as an income tax deduction,...
In 2000, voters approved Amendment 20, allowing the possession and use of medical marijuana in Colorado. In 2012, voters approved Amendment 64, legalizing marijuana for use by adults aged 21 and older. Sales of retail marijuana for adult use began on January 1, 2014.
This issue brief provides information on mechanisms used to refund revenue in excess of the state's constitutional spending limit. For information on the state spending limit and how it is calculated, please refer to Issue Brief 14-03A.
The state innovative motor vehicle income tax credit is intended to reduce the cost of alternative fuel vehicles and incentivize their purchase. This issue brief describes the tax credit, most recently addressed in House Bill 13-1247, and provides information on how its value is calculated.