Colorado · 2026
Colorado property tax exemptions
✓ Verified August 2026 against official county pages — 4 sources linked below.
Exemptions lower the value your taxes are figured on — for most homeowners they're the easiest money on this page. Nearly every one has a filing date, though, and missing it usually costs you a year. The statewide programs and their deadlines are below; county pages carry the local versions stacked on top.
| Exemption | Deadline to file | What it's worth |
|---|---|---|
| Senior homestead exemption | Apply by July 15 (late applications accepted through August 15, without appeal rights) | 50% of the first $200,000 of the home's actual value is exempt — for homeowners 65+ on January 1 who have owned and occupied it as their primary residence for 10 consecutive years (surviving spouses can qualify too); the state reimburses the county for the difference |
| Disabled veteran exemption | Apply by July 1 | A parallel exemption for veterans with a service-connected disability rated 100% permanent, and for Gold Star spouses |
| Property tax deferral | Apply by April 1 | Seniors and active-duty military can defer payment (the state pays the county and holds a lien) — a cash-flow tool, not a discount |
65 or older?
Start with the Senior homestead exemption — 50% of the first $200,000 of the home's actual value is exempt — for homeowners 65+ on January 1 who have owned and occupied it as their primary residence for 10 consecutive years (surviving spouses can qualify too); the state reimburses the county for the difference. Deadline: Apply by July 15 (late applications accepted through August 15, without appeal rights).
Comparing states? Every state's senior program is in the senior property tax exemptions by state table.
How to file
Senior homestead exemption: Apply once with your county assessor; the exemption stays with you while you qualify. The form is Senior Property Tax Homestead Exemption Short Form (Long Form for surviving spouses and ownership/occupancy exceptions). Get the form.
Disabled veteran exemption: Apply through your county assessor with your VA documentation.
Property tax deferral: Apply through the Colorado State Treasurer's deferral program.
Amounts and dates above are the statewide baseline — where counties or cities run their own versions, the local deadline and paperwork can differ. Confirm with your county assessor before relying on a date.
Your county's exemptions
Exempted and still think the bill is high? The next lever is the value itself: how to appeal in Colorado.
Common questions
- Does Colorado have a senior property tax exemption?
- Yes — Senior homestead exemption. 50% of the first $200,000 of the home's actual value is exempt — for homeowners 65+ on January 1 who have owned and occupied it as their primary residence for 10 consecutive years (surviving spouses can qualify too); the state reimburses the county for the difference. Deadline: Apply by July 15 (late applications accepted through August 15, without appeal rights).
- Do Colorado exemptions apply automatically?
- Most don't — nearly every program starts with an application, and some must be renewed. Missing the filing window usually means waiting a year, so if you live in the home you own, check what you've claimed before anything else. Confirm details with your county assessor.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from an official page. Check them yourself:
- Summit County — Understanding Property Taxes in Colorado (2026 assessment rates) — checked 2026-08-12
- City & County of Denver — Property Tax Calendar — checked 2026-08-12
- C.R.S. § 39-5-122 — checked 2026-08-12
- City & County of Denver Assessor — Senior Property Tax Homestead Exemption instructions (SVE 001, 01/25) — checked 2026-08-18