All personal property is taxable in Colorado unless specifically exempted by sections 3 to 6 of article X of the Colorado Constitution. Some exemptions are determined by ownership while other exemptions are dependent upon one or more specific conditions being met. The courts have held that "the firmly established rule is that the presumption is against tax exemption, and the burden is on the one claiming the exemption to establish clearly his right thereto,” United Presbyterian Association et al. v. Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, 167 Colo. 485, 448 P.2d 967 (1968). Before granting any exemption, all applicable statutes must be reviewed to determine that the owner and the property meet all criteria specified.
All applications for exemption of privately owned property that is owned and used solely and exclusively for religious purposes, for private schools, or for strictly charitable purposes are submitted to the Property Tax Administrator. The Administrator reviews each application to determine whether the exemption is justified and in accordance with the intent of the law.
Types of Personal Property that are Exempt
Below is a list of personal property exemptions. For more information on these exemptions and how they are applied, see Assessors' Reference Library, Volume 5, Chapters 1-2 and Volume 2, Chapter 10.
- Agricultural and livestock products - § 39-3-121, C.R.S.
- Agricultural equipment (used on a farm or ranch) - § 39-3-122, C.R.S.
- Charitable property ** - §§ 39-3-108-116, C.R.S.
- City or town property - § 39-3-105, C.R.S.
- Consumable personal property - § 39-3-119, C.R.S.
- County fair property - § 39-3-127, C.R.S.
- County lease-purchase property - §§ 30-11-104.1-104.2, C.R.S.
- County owned property - § 39-3-105, C.R.S.
- Credit Union personal property - § 11-30-123, C.R.S.
- Household furnishings not producing income - § 39-3-102, C.R.S.
- Indian property (on reservation) - by Treaty
- Intangible personal property - § 39-3-118, C.R.S.
- Inventories of merchandise and materials and supplies held for sale or consumption by a business - § 39-3-119, C.R.S.
- Livestock - § 39-3-120, C.R.S.
- Municipality leased property §§ 31-15-801-802, C.R.S.
- Nonproducing Unpatented Mining Claims - § (3)(1)(b), art. X, COLO. CONST.
- Personal effects not producing income - § 39-3-103, C.R.S.
- Private school property ** - § 39-3-107, C.R.S.
- Public library property - § 39-3-105, C.R.S.
- Religious worship property ** - § 39-3-106, C.R.S.
- School District lease-purchase property - § 22-32-127(1)(b), C.R.S.
- School District leased or rented property - § 22-32-127(1)(b), C.R.S.
- School District owned property - § 39-3-105, C.R.S.
- Software - § 39-3-118, C.R.S.
- Special District property - § 39-3-105, C.R.S.
- Special District lease-purchase property - § 39-3-124, C.R.S.
- State lease-purchase property - § 39-3-124, C.R.S.
- PP of $52,000 total actual value or less per county - § 39-3-119.5, C.R.S.
- Until Personal Property is First Used by Current Owner - § 39-3-118.5, C.R.S.
- U. S. Government property - Enabling Act
- Works of Art - §§ 39-3-102 and 39-3-123, C.R.S.
** Exemption initially must be granted and then be reviewed annually by the Property Tax Administrator. Any questions regarding these exemptions should be directed to the Personal Property Exemptions section.
Religious, Private School, Charitable, or Fraternal/Veterans Organization Exemptions
The Exemptions section, under the authority of the Property Tax Administrator, is responsible for determining qualification for exemption from property taxation for properties that are owned and used for religious, charitable and private school purposes. The section provides assistance to counties and taxpayers with inquiries about exempt properties, conducts hearings on denied exemption applications and revocations of exemption, and defends appeals of such denials and revocations. For more information on filing for an exemption, applicable fees, annual filing requirements, and all other information, refer to the Exemptions portion of this website.