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Taxes
Property tax relief for seniors in Colorado
Colorado has 2 programs that can lower property taxes for older adults: Senior Property Tax Exemption and Property Tax, Rent, and Heat Rebate (PTC Rebate). Each one has its own rules and deadline.
Senior Property Tax Exemption
If you are 65 or older and have lived in your Colorado home for at least 10 years in a row, half of the first $200,000 of its value is not taxed. You apply once with your county assessor by July 15. A surviving spouse of someone who qualified may also apply.
How to apply
- In person
- Send the application to your county assessor between January 1 and July 15 (in Denver, by mail to the Assessor's Office)
- Who runs it
- Your county assessor (Colorado Division of Property Taxation sets the rules)
Who may qualify
| Age | At least one owner 65 or older as of January 1 |
|---|---|
| Home | You have owned it and lived in it as your primary residence for at least 10 years in a row before January 1 |
| Surviving spouse | The surviving spouse of a senior who would have qualified may apply Source: City and County of Denver, Assessor's Office (source 2) |
What you may get
| Exemption | 50% of the first $200,000 of your home's actual value is not taxed |
|---|
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Application deadline | July 15 of the year you want the exemption |
|---|---|
| Do you reapply each year? | No, once approved, unless the ownership or occupancy changes (Denver's rule) Source: City and County of Denver, Assessor's Office (source 2) |
How Colorado is different
Where Colorado's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- No income limit is mentioned; the rule is age plus 10 years in the same home
- For tax years 2025 and 2026, a Qualified Senior Primary Residence classification can restore the break for some seniors who moved and lost it
Sources: Arapahoe County Assessor (source 1), City and County of Denver, Assessor's Office (source 2)
Good to know
- The exemption only counts from the year you apply; it isn't given for past years.
Source: City and County of Denver, Assessor's Office (source 2)
Property Tax, Rent, and Heat Rebate (PTC Rebate)
Colorado pays a yearly rebate of up to $1,178 to residents 65 or older with low income, to help with property tax, rent or heating bills. Homeowners and renters can both apply to the Department of Revenue.
How to apply
- In person
- At a Department of Revenue Taxpayer Service Center
- By mail
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Denver, CO 80261-0005
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify
| Age | 65 or older, or a surviving spouse 58 or older |
|---|---|
| Income limit, single (2025 rebate) | $19,094 a year |
| Income limit, married couple (2025 rebate) | $25,788 a year |
| Residency | Lived in Colorado all of 2025 and paid property tax, rent or heating bills |
What you may get
| Largest rebate (2025) | Up to $1,178 a year, based on your income and costs |
|---|
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Deadline for the 2025 rebate | December 31, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Do you reapply? | Yes, an application for each year |
How Colorado is different
Where Colorado's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- Renters and people who pay only heating bills can qualify, not just homeowners
- People under 65 with disabilities now use the Disability Assistance Credit on the income tax return instead
Good to know
- Renters: Renters may get this rebate for rent paid, if they meet the age, income and residency rules.
- A surviving spouse who was divorced before the spouse died doesn't qualify.
Free help
Free help with this in Colorado
Colorado State Unit on Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Colorado
Property tax relief in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Arapahoe County Assessor, Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- City and County of Denver, Assessor's Office, Senior Property Tax Exemption (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Property Tax, Rent, and Heat Rebate (PTC Rebate) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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