Colorado · Property tax exemptions for veterans · Updated Oct 2026

Colorado property tax exemptions for veterans (2026)

Every statewide property tax break for veterans in Colorado that our guide lists, from disabled-veteran exemptions to breaks for surviving spouses. What each is worth, the VA rating it needs, the deadline and how to apply.

Short answer

The main property tax break for veterans in Colorado is the Veteran with a Disability Exemption. 50% of the first $200,000 of your home's actual value is not taxed (up to $100,000 off the value).

Worth
$100,000
VA rating
100% (or individual unemployability)
Income limit
None listed in our sources
Deadline
January 1 to July 1 of the tax year.

Also on this page:

Property tax breaks for veterans in Colorado

Disabled veterans

Veteran with a Disability Exemption

50% of the first $200,000 of your home's actual value is not taxed (up to $100,000 off the value).

Who qualifies
A veteran who served on active duty and has a service-connected disability rated by the VA as 100% permanent, or has been granted individual unemployability. You or your spouse own the home and you live in it as your primary residence on January 1. No income limit and no 10-year requirement.
How to apply
File the Veteran with a Disability application with your county assessor and attach a recent VA disability award letter. If your rating or unemployability status changes, send new documents to the assessor within 60 days.
Deadline
January 1 to July 1 of the tax year. Late applications until August 1, without appeal rights.
Renewal
One-time; reapply within 60 days of a change in ownership or occupancy.
Law
Colo. Const. art. X, sec. 3.5(1.5); C.R.S. 39-3-201 to 39-3-208

Source: official page

For surviving spouses of veterans and service members

These breaks are for the surviving spouse. See every break a surviving spouse in Colorado can claim or keep on the surviving spouses page.

Surviving spouses

Gold Star Spouse Exemption and Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran

50% of the first $200,000 of your home's actual value is not taxed.

Who qualifies
(1) A Gold Star spouse: the spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a veteran whose death came from a service-related injury or disease, who has been awarded Gold Star status by the VA. (2) The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who was already receiving the veteran exemption. Either way, you own the home and live in it as your primary residence on January 1.
How to apply
File the matching application (Gold Star Spouse, or Veteran with a Disability Surviving Spouse) with the county assessor, with proof of Gold Star status or the veteran's prior exemption and the death certificate.
Deadline
January 1 to July 1 of the tax year. Late applications until August 1, without appeal rights.
Renewal
One-time; reapply within 60 days of a change.
Law
Colo. Const. art. X, sec. 3.5; C.R.S. 39-3-201 to 39-3-208

Source: official page

How to apply, step by step

Veteran with a Disability Exemption

  1. File the Veteran with a Disability application with your county assessor and attach a recent VA disability award letter.
  2. If your rating or unemployability status changes, send new documents to the assessor within 60 days.

Form: Veteran with a Disability Exemption Application (Division of Property Taxation)

Deadline: January 1 to July 1 of the tax year. Late applications until August 1, without appeal rights.

Renewal: One-time; reapply within 60 days of a change in ownership or occupancy.

Gold Star Spouse Exemption and Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran

  1. File the matching application (Gold Star Spouse, or Veteran with a Disability Surviving Spouse) with the county assessor, with proof of Gold Star status or the veteran's prior exemption and the death certificate.

Form: Gold Star Spouse / Veteran with a Disability Surviving Spouse Application

Deadline: January 1 to July 1 of the tax year. Late applications until August 1, without appeal rights.

Renewal: One-time; reapply within 60 days of a change.

Savings estimate for Colorado

Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.

Filled in when the exemption is a fixed dollar amount. You can change it.

Colorado median effective rate: 0.48% (taxes paid as a share of home value). Use your own rate if you know it.

Enter a value and a tax rateChoose an exemption or type the value it takes off.

Median effective rate: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25103 (median real estate taxes paid, owner-occupied homes) and B25077 (median value, owner-occupied homes). It is a statewide middle value; local rates differ a lot.

An estimate, not a bill. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Eligibility finder for Colorado

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Pre-set for veterans: you own and live in the home and are a veteran. Add your VA rating, and change any answer.

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Your combined service-connected rating. Leave empty if you have none.

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for Colorado

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

The checklist asks for no personal details and nothing is sent to our server: the files are made on your device.

Exemptions to include

Questions about veterans property tax breaks in Colorado

Who qualifies for property tax breaks for veterans in Colorado?

Veteran with a Disability Exemption: A veteran who served on active duty and has a service-connected disability rated by the VA as 100% permanent, or has been granted individual unemployability. You or your spouse own the home and you live in it as your primary residence on January 1. Gold Star Spouse Exemption and Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran: (1) A Gold Star spouse: the spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a veteran whose death came from a service-related injury or disease, who has been awarded Gold Star status by the VA. (2) The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who was already receiving the veteran exemption. Either way, you own the home and live in it as your primary residence on January 1.

Is there an income limit for veterans' property tax breaks in Colorado?

Our sources list no income limit for any of these breaks.

When is the deadline for veterans to apply in Colorado?

Veteran with a Disability Exemption: January 1 to July 1 of the tax year. Late applications until August 1, without appeal rights. Gold Star Spouse Exemption and Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran: January 1 to July 1 of the tax year. Late applications until August 1, without appeal rights.

Do veterans have to reapply every year in Colorado?

Veteran with a Disability Exemption: One-time; reapply within 60 days of a change in ownership or occupancy. Gold Star Spouse Exemption and Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran: One-time; reapply within 60 days of a change.

Where do veterans apply for property tax breaks in Colorado?

Your county assessor approves the senior, disabled veteran and Gold Star exemptions and the senior primary residence classification. You apply to the assessor of the county where the home is; the Division of Property Taxation (Department of Local Affairs) sets the forms. For the Veteran with a Disability Exemption: File the Veteran with a Disability application with your county assessor and attach a recent VA disability award letter.

More for Colorado homeowners

Veterans in nearby states