Colorado Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption for older homeowners

What this program is, in plain English

Colorado offers property tax relief to older homeowners through some combination of a homestead exemption, a senior freeze that locks the assessed value, a circuit breaker credit tied to income, and a deferral that postpones the bill until the home is sold. Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Property Taxation sets the rules, but almost all of these are filed with your county assessor or treasurer, not with the state. Deadlines are once a year and missing one usually costs you the whole year, so call the county assessor and ask which relief you qualify for and when the form is due. A deferral is a loan against the house, not a discount, so ask what interest is charged before you sign. Exempts a portion of the actual value of a qualifying senior's primary residence from property taxation, applied for through the county assessor.

Who qualifies

• You are 60 or older.
• Income limit: Not yet verified — call to confirm

What to have ready

• Photo ID showing the address of the home you live in
• Proof of age, such as a driver's license or birth certificate
• Last year's property tax bill
• Proof of income for everyone who owns or lives in the home
• The deed or proof that you own and occupy the home

How to apply

This program is run by Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Property Taxation. Processing times vary by state.