Someone reminded me today about Colorado’s Senior Property Tax Exemption. While Colorado property taxes are actually relatively low, that doesn’t mean they are $0, so this is worth checking out. We are not 65 so haven’t been able to use it yet, but I realized that I had never written about it for those who are 65. You can read more about it at that link, but the most important things to know are:
- A person (if there are joint owners it just has to be one of them) has to be at least age 65 on January 1st of the tax year. So, for example, someone who was 65 or older on January 1, 2026 could claim the exemption for their 2026 property taxes which are then paid in 2027.
- The property has to be your primary residence and you have to have owned and occupied it for at least the last 10 years prior to the January 1st date.
- Once you have been accepted, you do not have to reapply each year, it automatically continues as long as at least one of the owners is at least 65, it’s a primary residence, and it’s been owned and occupied for at least 10 years.
- The amount of the exemption is 50% of the first $200,000 of the actual value of the property. That means for most Coloradans, $100,000 of the value is exempted from property tax. What that translates to in savings is going to vary based on your property tax rates but, for our house, that works out to about a $650 savings (if we were 65 or older).
- The deadline to apply each year is July 15th (tomorrow!), but late applications are accepted through August 15th (the only difference is that you can’t appeal a late application if they deny you). Note that they have to receive the application by those dates, so if you want to get it in by July 15th you are going to want to drop it off in person as opposed to mailing it. (Mailing it is fine if you are reading this earlier in the year.)
- There is a “short form” application and a “long form” application. Most people can use the short form, with the long form reserved for some complicated exceptions that don’t apply to most people.
So, if you are a Coloradan who is 65 or older and have owned and lived in your property as your primary residence for at least 10 years and have not filed this form previously, you should get on it. Again, once you’ve filed and been accepted once, then you’re good each successive year as long as you stay in the property.
Property owners with disabilities may also qualify for the Property Tax/Rent/Heat Credit (PTC). Some folks may also qualify for the Property Tax Work-Off Program (60 and older). You can find information about that program through your County Treasurer’s office.