Title 39 – Taxation
ARTICLE 1
General Provisions
39-1-101. Legislative declaration.
The general assembly declares that its purpose in enacting articles 1 to 13 of this title is to exercise the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution wherein it is provided, among other things, that “the actual value of all real and personal property not exempt from taxation under this article shall be determined under general laws, which shall prescribe such methods and regulations as shall secure just and equalized valuations for assessment of all real and personal property not exempt from taxation under this article”. It further declares that it intends to fix the percentage of such determined actual value at which all such property shall be assessed for taxation. It further declares that the actual value of certain classes of real property may not be able to be determined after appropriate consideration of the three approaches to value; Therefore, it is incumbent upon the general assembly to provide for a means to determine the actual value of such taxable property, and to effect this result the general assembly hereby finds and declares that, when appropriate consideration of the three approaches to value fails to derive an actual value for such property, the actual value of such property shall be determined by comparison of the surface use of such property to property with a similar surface use. It further declares that the actual value of nonproducing oil, gas, and oil and gas mineral interests shall be determined by the income approach capitalizing annual net rental income at an appropriate market rate. To these ends, the provisions of said articles shall be strictly construed.
39-1-102. Definitions As used in articles 1 to 13 of this title, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Administrator” means the property tax administrator.
(1.1) (a) “Agricultural and livestock products” means plant or animal products in a raw or unprocessed state which are derived from the science and art of agriculture. “Agriculture”, for the purposes of this subsection (1.1), means farming, ranching, animal husbandry, and horticulture.
(b) On and after January 1, 2023, for the purposes of this subsection (1.1), “agricultural and livestock products” includes crops grown within a controlled environment agricultural facility in a raw or unprocessed state for human or livestock consumption. For the purposes of this subsection (1.1)(b), “agricultural and livestock products” does not include marijuana, as defined in section 18-18-102 (18)(a), or any other nonfood crop agricultural products.
(1.3) “Agricultural equipment that is used on the farm or ranch or in a CEA facility in the production of agricultural products”:
(a) Means any personal property used on a farm of ranch, as defined in subsections (3.5) and (13.5) of this section, for planting, growing, and harvesting agricultural products or for raising or breeding livestock for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit; and
(b) Includes:
(I) Any mechanical system used on the farm or ranch for the conveyance and storage of animal products in a raw or unprocessed state, regardless of whether or not such mechanical system is affixed to real property;
(II) Silviculture personal property that is designed, adapted, and used for the planting, growing, maintenance, or harvesting of trees in a raw or unprocessed state;
(III) Any personal property within a facility, whether attached to a building or not, that is capable of being removed from the facility, and is used in direct connection with the operation of a controlled environment agricultural facility, which facility is used solely for planting, growing, or harvesting crops in a raw or unprocessed state; and
(IV) Any personal property within a greenhouse, whether attached to the greenhouse or not, that is capable of being removed from the greenhouse and is used in direct connection with the operation of a greenhouse, which greenhouse is used solely for planting or growing crops in a raw or unprocessed state, and the sole purpose of growing crops in the greenhouse is to obtain a monetary profit from the wholesale of plant-based food for human or livestock consumption.
(1.6) (a) “Agricultural land” whether used by the owner of the land or lessee, means one of the following:
(I) (A) A parcel of land, whether located in an incorporated or unincorporated area and regardless of the uses for which such land is zoned, that was used the previous two years and presently is used as a farm or ranch, as defined in subsections (3.5) and (13.5) of this section, or that is in the process of being restored through conservation practices. Such land must have been classified or eligible for classification as “agricultural land”, consistent with this subsection (1.6), during the ten years preceding the year of assessment. Such land must continue to have actual agricultural use. “Agricultural land” under this subparagraph (I) shall not include two acres or less of land on which a residential improvement is located unless the improvement is integral to an agricultural operation conducted on such land. “Agricultural land” also includes the land underlying other improvements if such improvements are an integral part of the farm or ranch and if such other improvements and the land area dedicated to such other improvements are typically used as an ancillary part of the operation. The use of a portion of such land for hunting, fishing, or other wildlife purposes, for monetary profit or otherwise, shall not affect the classification of agricultural land. For purposes of this subparagraph (I), a parcel of land shall be “in the process of being restored through conservation practices” if: The land has been placed in a conservation reserve program established by the natural resources conservation service pursuant to 7 U.S.C. Secs. 1 to 5506; or a conservation plan approved by the appropriate conservation district has been implemented for the land for up to a period of ten crop years as if the land has been placed in such a conservation reserve program.
(B) A residential improvement shall be deemed to be “integral to an agricultural operation” for purposes of sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (I) if an individual occupying the residential improvement either regularly conducts, supervises, or administers material aspects of the agricultural operation or is the spouse or a parent, grandparent, sibling, or child of the individual.
(II) A parcel of land that consists of at least forty acres; that is forest land; which is used to produce tangible wood products that originate from the productivity of such land for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit; that is subject to a forest management plan; and that is not a farm or ranch, as defined in subsections (3.5) and (13.5) of this section. “agricultural land” under this subparagraph (II) includes land underlying any residential improvement located on such agricultural land.
(III) A parcel of land that consists of at least eighty acres, or of less than eighty acres if such parcel does not contain any residential improvements, and that is subject to a perpetual conservation easement, if such land was classified by the assessor as agricultural land under subparagraph (I) or (II) of this paragraph (a) at the time such easement was granted, if the grant of the easement was to a qualified organization, if the easement was granted exclusively for conservation purposes, and if all current and contemplated future uses of the land are described in the conservation easement. “Agricultural land” under this subparagraph (III) does not include any portion of such land that is actually used for non agricultural commercial or nonagricultural residential purposes.
(IV) A parcel of land, whether located in an incorporated or unincorporated are and regardless of the uses for which such land is zoned, used as a farm or ranch, as defined in subsections (3.5) and (13.5) of this section, if the owner of the land has a decreed right to appropriated water granted in accordance with article 92 of title 37, C.R.S. or a final permit to appropriated ground water granted in accordance with article 90 of title 37, C.R.S., for purposes other than residential purposes, and water appropriated under such right or permit shall be and is used for the production of agricultural or livestock products on such land;
(V) A parcel of land, whether located in an incorporated or unincorporated area and regardless of the uses for which such land is zoned, that has been reclassified from agricultural land to a classification other than agricultural land and that met the definition of agricultural land as set forth in subparagraphs (I) to (IV) of the paragraph (a) during the three years before the year of assessment. For purposes of this subparagraph (V), the parcel of land need not have been classified or eligible for classification as agricultural land during the ten years preceding the year of assessment as required by subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a).
(b) (I) Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), all other agricultural property that does not meet the definition set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1.6) shall be classified as all other property and shall be valued using appropriate consideration of the three approaches to appraisal based on its actual use on the assessment date.
(II) On or after January 1, 2015, “all other agricultural property” includes greenhouse and nursery production areas used to grow food products, agricultural products, or horticultural stock for wholesale purposes only that originate above the ground.
(c) An assessor must determine, based on sufficient evidence, that a parcel of land does not qualify as agricultural land as defined in subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1.6) before land may be changed from agricultural land to any other classification.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, property that is used solely for the cultivation of medical marijuana shall not be classified as agricultural land.
(2) “Assessor” means the elected assessor of a county, or his or her appointed successor, and, in the case of the city and county of Denver, such equivalent officer as may be provided by its charter, and, in the case of the city and county of Broomfield, such equivalent officer as may be provided by its charter or code.
(2.5) “Bed and breakfast” means an overnight lodging establishment, whether owned by a natural person or any legal entity, that is a residential dwelling unit or an appurtenance thereto, in which the innkeeper resides, or that is a building designed but not necessarily occupied as a single family residence that is next to, or directly across the street from, the innkeeper’s residence, and in either circumstance, in which:
(a) Lodging accommodations are provided for a fee;
(b) At least one meal per day is provided at no charge other than the fee for the lodging accommodations; and
(c) There are not more than thirteen sleeping rooms available for transient guests.
(3) “Board” means the board of assessment appeals.
(3.1) “Commercial lodging area” means a guest room or a private or shared bathroom within a bed and breakfast that is offered for the exclusive use of paying guests on a nightly or weekly basis. Classification of a guest room or a bathroom as a “commercial lodging area” shall be based on whether at any time during a year such rooms are offered by an innkeeper as nightly or weekly lodging to guests for a fee. Classification shall not be based on the number of days that such rooms are actually occupied by paying guests.
(3.2) “Conservation purpose” means any of the following purposes as set forth in section 170 (h) of the federal “ Internal Revenue Code of 1986”, as amended:
(a) The preservation of land areas for outdoor recreation, the education of the public, or the protection of a relatively natural habitat for fish, wildlife, plants, or similar ecosystems; or
(b) The preservation of open space, including farmland and forest land, where such preservation is for the scenic enjoyment of the public or is pursuant to a clearly delineated federal, state, or local government conservation policy and where such preservation will yield a significant public benefit.
(3.3) “Controlled environment agricultural facility” or “CEA facility” means a nonresidential structure and related equipment and appurtenances that combines engineering, horticultural science, and computerized management techniques to optimize hydroponics, plant quality, and food production efficiency from the land’s water for human or livestock consumption. The sole purpose of growing crops in a CEA facility is to obtain a monetary profit from the wholesale of plant-based food for human or livestock consumption.
(3.5) “Farm” means a parcel of land which is used to produce agricultural products that originate from the land’s productivity for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit.
(4) “Fixtures” means those articles which, although once movable chattels, have become an accessory to and a part of real property by having been physically incorporated therein or annexed or affixed thereto. “Fixtures” includes systems for the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, sanitation, lighting, and plumbing of such building. “Fixtures” does not include machinery, equipment, or other articles related to a commercial or industrial operation which are affixed to the real property for proper utilization of such articles.
(4.3) “Forest land” means land of which at least ten percent is stocked by forest trees of any size and includes land that formerly had such tree cover and that will be naturally or artificially regenerated. “Forest land” includes roadside, streamside, and shelterbelt strips of timber which have a crown width of at least one hundred twenty feet. “Forest land” includes unimproved roads and trails, streams, and clearings which are less than one hundred twenty feet wide.
(4.4) “Forest management plan” means an agreement which includes a plan to aid the owner of forest land in increasing the health, vigor, and beauty of such forest land through use of forest management practices and which has been either executed between the owner of forest land and the Colorado state forest service or executed between the owner of forest land and a professional forester and has been reviewed and has received a favorable recommendation from the Colorado state forest service. The Colorado forest service shall annually inspect each parcel of land subject to a forest management plan to determine if the terms and conditions of such plan are being complied with and shall report by March 1 of each year to the assessor in each affected county, the legal descriptions of those properties and the names of their owners that no longer qualify for the agricultural classification because of noncompliance with their forest management plans. No property shall be entitled to the agricultural classification unless the legal description and the name of the owner appear on the report submitted by the Colorado state forest service. The Colorado state forest service shall charge a fee for the inspection of each parcel of land in such amount for the reasonable costs incurred by the Colorado state forest service in conducting such inspections. Such fee shall be paid by the owner of such land prior to such inspection. Any fees collected pursuant to this subsection (4.4) shall be subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly.
(4.5) “Forest management practices” means practices accepted by professional foresters which control forest establishment, composition, density, and growth for the purpose of producing forest products and associated amenities following sound business methods and technical forestry principles.
(4.6) “Forest trees” means woody plants which have a well-developed stem or stems, which are usually more than twelve feet in height at maturity, and which have a generally well-defined crown.
(5) Repealed, L. 83, p. 1488, section 6, effective June 1, 1983.
(5.5) (a) “Hotels and motels” means improvements and the land associated with such improvements that are used by a business establishment primarily to provide lodging, camping, or personal care or health facilities to the general public and that are predominantly used on an overnight or weekly basis; except that “hotels and motels” does not include:
(I) A residential unit, except for a residential unit that is a hotel unit;
(II) A residential unit that would otherwise be classified as a hotel unit if the residential unit is held as inventory by a developer primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the developer’s trade or business, is marketed for sale by the developer, and either has been held by the developer for less than two years since the certificate of occupancy for the residential unit has been issued or is not depreciated under the internal revenue code, as defined in section 39-22-103 (5.3), while owned by the developer;
(III) A residential unit that would otherwise be classified as a hotel unit if the residential unit has been acquired by a lender or an owners’ association through foreclosure, a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or a similar transaction, is marketed for sale by the lender or owners’ association and is not depreciated under the internal revenue code, as defined in section 39-22-103 (5.3), while owned by the lender or owners’ association; or
(IV) Repealed.
(b) If any time share estate, time share use period, undivided interest, or other partial ownership interest in any hotel unit is owned by any non-hotel unit owner, then, unless a declaration or other express agreement binding on the non-hotel unit owners and the hotel unit owners provides otherwise:
(I) The hotel unit owners shall pay the taxes on the hotel unit not required to be paid by the non-hotel unit owners pursuant to subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b).
(II) Each non-hotel unit owner shall pay that portion of the taxes on the hotel unit equal to the non-hotel unit owner’s ownership or usage percentage of the hotel unit multiplied by the property tax that would have been levied on the hotel unit if the actual value and valuation for assessment of the hotel unit had been determined as if the hotel unit was residential real property.
(III) For purposes of determining the amount due from any hotel unit owner or non-hotel unit owner pursuant to subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), the assessor shall, upon the request of any hotel unit owner or non-hotel unit owner, calculate the property tax that would have been levied on the hotel unit if the actual value and valuation for assessment of the hotel unit had been determined as if the hotel unit were residential real property. A hotel unit owner or non-hotel unit owner may petition the county board of equalization for review of the assessor’s calculation pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 39-10-114. Any appeal from the decision of the county board shall be governed by section 39-10-114.5.
(c) As used in this subsection (5.5):
(I) “Condominium unit” means a unit, as defined in section 38-33.3-103 (30), C.R.S., and also includes a time share unit.
(II) “Hotel unit owners” means any person or member of a group of related persons whose ownership and use of a residential unit cause the residential unit to be classified as a hotel unit.
(III) “Hotel units” means more than four residential unit ownership equivalents in a project that are owned, in whole or in part, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate entities, by one person or by a group of related persons if the person or group of related persons uses the residential units or parts thereof in connection with a business establishment primarily to provide lodging, camping, or personal care or health facilities to the general public predominantly on an overnight or weekly basis. “Hotel unit” means any residential unit included in hotel units. For purposes of this subparagraph (III):
(A) “Control” means the power to direct the business or affairs of an entity through direct or indirect ownership of stock, partnership interests, membership interests, or other forms of beneficial interests.
(B) “Related persons” means individuals who are members of the same family, including only spouses and minor children, or persons who control, are controlled by, or are under common control with each other. Persons are not related persons solely because they engage a common agent to manage or rent their residential units, they are members of an owners’ association or similar group, they enter into a tenancy in common or a similar agreement with respect to undivided interests in a residential unit, or any combination of the foregoing.
(IV) “Project” means one or more improvements that contain residential units if the boundaries of the residential units are described in or determined by the same declaration, as defined in section 38-33.3-103 (13), C.R.S.
(V) “Residential unit” means a condominium unit, a single family residence, or a townhome.
(VI) “Non-hotel unit owner” means any owner of a time share estate, time share use period, undivided interest, or other partial ownership interest in any hotel unit who is not a hotel unit owner with respect to the hotel unit.
(VII) “Residential unit ownership equivalent” means:
(A) In the case of time share units, time share interests or time share use periods in one or more time share units that in the aggregate entitle the owner of such time share interests or time share use periods to three hundred sixty-five days of use in any calendar year or three hundred sixty-six days of use in any calendar year that is a leap year; and
(B) In the case of residential units other than time share units, undivided interests or other ownership interests in one or more such residential units that total one hundred percent. For purposes of this sub-subparagraph (B), any undivided interest or other ownership interest not stated in terms of a percentage of total ownership shall be converted to a percentage of total ownership based on the rights accorded to the holder of the undivided interest or other ownership interest.
(VIII) “Time share unit” means a condominium unit that is divided into time share estates as defined in section 38-33-110 (5), or that is subject to a time share use as defined in section 12-10-501(4).
(5.6) “Hotels and motels” as defined in subsection (5.5) of this section shall not include bed and breakfasts.
(6) “Household furnishings” means that personal property, other than fixtures, in residential structures and buildings which is not used for the production of income at any time.
(6.2) “Hydroponics” means a system in which water soluble primary or secondary plant nutrients or micronutrients, or a combination of such nutrients, are placed in intimate contact with a plant’s root system that is being grown in water or an inert supportive medium that supplies physical support for the roots.
(6.3) “Improvements” means all structures, buildings, fixtures, fences, and water rights erected upon or affixed to land, whether or not title to such land has been acquired.
(6.8) “Independently owned residential solar electric generation facility” means personal property that:
(a) Is located on residential real property;
(b) Is owned by a person other than the owner of the residential real property;
(c) Is installed on the customer’s side of the meter;
(d) Is used to produce electricity from solar energy primarily for use in the residential improvements located on the residential real property; and
(e) Has a production capacity of no more than one hundred kilowatts.
(7.1) “Innkeeper” means the owner, operator, or manager of a bed and breakfast.
(7.2) “Inventories of merchandise and materials and supplies which are held for consumption by a business or are held primarily for sale” means those classes of personal property which are held primarily for sale by a business, farm, or ranch, including components of personal property to be held for sale, or which are held for consumption by a business, farm, or ranch, or which are rented for thirty days or less for the purposes of this subsection (7.2), “personal property rented for thirty days or less” means personal property rented for thirty days or less which can be returned at the option of the person renting the property, in a transaction on which the sales or use tax is actually collected before being finally sold, whether or not such personal property is subject to depreciation. It is the purpose of the general assembly to exempt “personal property rented for thirty days or less” from property tax because of the similarity of such property to inventories of merchandise held by retail stores. Further, the general assembly intends this exemption to encompass a transaction under a rental agreement in which the customer pays rent in order to use an item for a brief period of time; it is not intended to encompass an equipment lease contract covering a specific period of time and which includes financial penalties for early cancellation. Except for “personal property rented for thirty days or less”, the term “inventories of merchandise and materials and supplies which are held for consumption by a business or are held primarily for sale” does not include personal property which is held for rent or lease or is subject to an allowance for depreciation. For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1984, the term does include inventory which is owned by and which is in the possession of the manufacturer of such inventory unless:
(a) Such inventory is in the possession of the manufacturer after having previously been leased by the manufacturer to a customer; and
(b) Such manufacturer has not designated such inventory for scrapping, substantial reconditioning, renovating, or remanufacturing in accordance with its customary practices. For the purposes of this paragraph (b), normal maintenance shall not constitute substantial reconditioning, renovating, or remanufacturing.
(7.5) Repealed.
(7.7) “Livestock” includes all animals.
(7.8) “Manufactured Home” means any preconstructed building unit or combination of preconstructed building units that:
(a) Includes electrical, mechanical, or plumbing services that are fabricated, formed, or assembled at a location other than the residential site of the completed home;
(b) Is designed and used for residential occupancy in either temporary or permanent locations;
(c) Is constructed in compliance with the “National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 5401 et seq., as amended;
(d) Does not have motive power;
(e) Is not licensed as a vehicle; and
(f) Is eligible for a certificate of title pursuant to part 1 of article 29 of title 38, C.R.S.
(7.9) “Minerals in place” means, without exception, metallic and non-metallic mineral substances of every kind while in the ground.
(8) “Mobile home” means a mobile home built prior to the adoption of the “National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 5401 et seq., as amended;
(8.3) “Modular Home” means any preconstructed factory-built building that:
(a) Is ineligible for a certificate of title pursuant to part 1 of article 29 of title 38, C.R.S.;
(b) Is not constructed in compliance with the “National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 5401 et seq., as amended; and
(c) Is constructed in compliance with building codes adopted by the Division of Housing in the Department of Local Affairs.
(8.4) “Natural cause” means fire, explosion, flood, tornado, action of the elements, act of war or terror, or similar cause beyond the control of and not caused by the party holding title to the property destroyed.
(8.5) “Not for private gain or corporate profit” means the ownership and use of property whereby no person with any connection to the owner thereof shall receive any pecuniary benefit except for reasonable compensation for services rendered and any excess income over expenses derived from the operation or use of the property and all proceeds from the sale of the property of the owner shall be devoted to the furthering of any exempt purpose.
(8.6) (a) “Nursing home” means a nursing care facility, regardless of a resident’s length of stay, that is licensed by the department of public health and environment under section 25-1.5-103(1) and that meets the definition of a nursing care facility as set forth in the department of public health and environment regulations, including a nursing care facility that provides convalescent care or rehabilitation services such as physical and occupational therapy.
(b) As used in this subsection (8.6), “nursing care facility” means a licensed health care entity that is planned, organized, operated, and maintained to provide supportive, restorative, and preventative services to persons who, due to physical or mental disability, require continuous or regular inpatient nursing care.
(8.7) “Perpetual conservation easement” means a conservation easement in gross, as described in article 30.5 of title 38, C.R.S. that qualifies as a perpetual conservation restriction pursuant to section 170 (h) of the federal “Internal Revenue Code of 1986”, as amended, an any regulations issued thereunder.
(9) “Person” means natural persons, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, and other legal entities which are or may become taxpayers by reason of the ownership of taxable real or personal property.
(10) “Personal effects” means such personal property as is or may be worn or carried on or about the person, and such personal property as is usually associated with the person or customarily used in personal hobby, sporting, or recreational activities and which is not used for the production of income at any time.
(11) “Personal property” means everything that is the subject of ownership and that is not included within the term “real property”. “Personal property” includes machinery, equipment, and other articles related to a commercial or industrial operation that are either affixed or not affixed to the real property for proper utilization of such articles. Except as otherwise specified in Articles 1 to 13 of this title, any pipeline, telecommunications line, utility line, cable television line, or other similar business asset or article installed through an easement, right-of-way, or leasehold for the purpose of commercial or industrial operation and not for the enhancement of real property shall be deemed to be personal property, including, without limitation, oil and gas distribution and transmission pipelines, gathering system pipelines flow lines, process lines, and related water pipeline collection, transportation, and distribution systems. Structures and other buildings installed on an easement, right-of-way, or leasehold that are not specifically referenced in this subsection (11) shall be deemed to be improvements pursuant to subsection (6.3) of this section.
(12) “Political subdivision” means any entity of government authorized by law to impose ad valorem taxes on taxable property located within its territorial limits.
(12.1) Repealed, L. 88, p. 1275, section 14, effective May 29, 1988.
(12.3) and (12.4) Repealed.
(12.5) “Professional forester” means any person who has received a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited school of forestry.
(13) “Property” means both real and personal property.
(13.2) “Qualified organization” means a qualified organization as defined in section 170 (h) (3) of the federal “Internal Revenue Code of 1986”, as amended.
(13.5) “Ranch” means a parcel of land which is used for grazing livestock for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit. For the purposes of this subsection (13.5), “livestock” means domestic animals which are used for food for human or animal consumption, breeding, draft, or profit.
(14) “Real property” means:
(a) All lands or interests in lands to which title or the right of title has been acquired from the government of the United States or from sovereign authority ratified by treaties entered into by the United States, or from the state;
(b) All mines, quarries, and minerals in and under the land, and all rights and privileges thereunto appertaining; and
(c) Improvements.
(14.3) “Residential improvements” means a building, or that portion of a building, designed for use predominantly as a place of residency by a person, a family, or families. The term includes buildings, structures, fixtures, fences, amenities, and water rights that are an integral part of the residential use. The term also includes a manufactured home, a mobile home, a modular home. and a tiny home, and a nursing home as defined in subsection (8.6) of this section, regardless of a resident’s length of stay..
(14.4) (a) (I)”Residential land” means a parcel of land upon which residential improvements are located. The term also includes:
(A) Land upon which residential improvements were destroyed by natural cause after the date of the last assessment as established in section 39-1-104 (10.2).
(B) Two acres or less of land on which a residential improvement is located where the improvement is not integral to an agricultural operation conducted on such land.
(C) A parcel of land without a residential improvement located thereon, if the parcel is contiguous to a parcel of residential land that has identical ownership based on the record title and contains a related improvement that is essential to the use of the residential improvement located on the identically owned contiguous residential land.
(II) “Residential land” does not include any portion of the land that is used for any purpose that would cause the land to be otherwise classified, except as provided for in section 39-1-103 (10.5).
(III) As used in this subsection (14.4):
(A) “Contiguous” means that the parcels physically touch; except that contiguity is not interrupted by an intervening local street, alley, or common element in a common-interest community.
(B) “Related improvement” means a driveway, parking space, or improvement other than a building, or that portion of a building designed for use predominantly as a place of residency by a person, a family, or families.
(b) (I) Notwithstanding section 39-1-103 (5) (c) and except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), when residential improvements are destroyed, demolished, or relocated as a result of a natural cause on or after January 1, 2010, that, were it not for their destruction, demolition, or relocation due to such natural cause, would have qualified the land upon which the improvements were located as residential land for the following property tax year, the residential land classification shall remain in place for the year of destruction, demolition, or relocation and the two subsequent property tax years. The residential land classification may remain in place for additional subsequent property tax years, not to exceed a total of five subsequent property tax years, if the assessor determines there is evidence the owner intends to rebuild or locate a residential improvement on the land. For purposes of this determination, the assessor may consider, but shall not be limited to considering, a building permit or other land development permit for the land, construction plans for such residential improvement, efforts by the owner to obtain financing for a residential improvement, or ongoing efforts to settle an insurance claim related to the destruction, demolition, or relocation of the residential improvement due to a natural cause.
(II) The residential land classification of the land described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) shall change according to current use if:
(A) A new residential improvement or part of a new residential improvement is not constructed or placed on the land in accordance with applicable land use regulations prior to the January 1 after the period described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b), unless the property owner provides documentary evidence to the assessor that during such period a good-faith effort was made to construct or place a new or part of a new residential improvement on the land but that additional time is necessary;
(B) The assessor determines that the classification at the time of destruction, demolition, or relocation as a result of a natural cause was erroneous; or
(C) A change of use has occurred. For purposes of this sub-subparagraph (C), a change of use shall not include the temporary loss of the residential use due to the destruction, demolition, or relocation as a result of a natural cause of the residential improvement.
(c) (I) Notwithstanding section 39-1-103 (5)(c) and except as provided in subsection (14.4)(c)(II) of this section, when residential improvements are destroyed, demolished, or relocated on or after January 1, 2018, that, were it not for their destruction, demolition, or relocation, would have qualified the land upon which the improvements were located as residential land for the following property tax year, the residential land classification shall remain in place for the year of destruction, demolition, or relocation and one subsequent property tax year if the assessor determines there is evidence that the owner intends to rebuild or locate a residential improvement on the land. For purposes of this determination, the assessor may consider, but is not limited to considering, a building permit or other land development permit for the land, construction plans for such residential improvement, or efforts by the owner to obtain financing for a residential improvement.
(II) The residential land classification of the land described in subsection (14.4)(c)(I) of this section shall change according to current use if:
(A) A new residential improvement or part of a new residential improvement is not constructed or placed on the land in accordance with applicable land use regulations prior to the January 1 after the period described in subsection (14.4)(c)(I) of this section;
(B) The assessor determines that the classification of the land at the time of the destruction, demolition, or relocation was erroneous; or
(C) A change of use has occurred. For purposes of this subsection (14.4)(c)(II)(c), a change of use shall not include the temporary loss of the residential use due to the destruction, demolition, or relocation of the residential improvement.
(14.5) “Residential real property” means residential land and residential improvements but does not include hotels and motels as defined in subsection (5.5) of this section.
(15) Repealed.
(15.5) (a) “School” means:
(I) An educational institution having a curriculum comparable to that of a publicly supported elementary or secondary school or college, or any combination thereof, and requiring daily attendance; or
(II) An institution that is licensed as a child care center pursuant to part 3 of article 5 of title 26.5 that is:
(A) Operated by and as an integral part of a not-for-profit educational institution that meets the requirements of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a); or
(B) A not-for profit institution that offers an educational program for not more than six hours per day and that employs educators trained in preschool through eight grade educational instruction and is licensed by the appropriate state agency and that is not otherwise qualified as a school under this paragraph (a) or as a religious institution.
(b) “School” includes any educational institution that meets the requirements set fort in subparagraph (I) or (II) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (15.5), even if such educational institution maintains hours of operation in excess of the minimum hour requirements of section 22-32-109(1)(n)(I)m C.R.S.
(16) “Taxable property” means all property, real and personal, not expressly exempted from taxation by law.
(16.3) “Tiny home” means a tiny home, as defined in section 24-32-3302 (35), that is certified by the division of housing in the department of local affairs to be designed for long-term residency and that is not registered in accordance with article 3 of title 42.
(17) “Treasurer” means the elected treasurer of a county or his or her appointed successor, and, in the case of the city and county of Denver, such equivalent officer as may be provided by its charter, in the case of the city and county of Broomfield, such equivalent officer as may be provided by its charter or code and in the case of any home rule county, the treasurer or such equivalent officer as provided by its charter.
(18) “Works of art” means those items of personal property that are original creations of visual art, including, but not limited to:
(a) Sculpture, in any material or combination of materials, whether in the round, bas-relief, high relief, mobile, fountain, kinetic, or electronic;
(b) Paintings or drawings;
(c) Mosaics;
(d) Photographs;
(e) Crafts made from clay, fiber and textiles, wood, metal, plastics, or any other material, or any combination thereof;
(f) Calligraphy;
(g) Mixed media composed of any combination of forms or media; or
(h) Unique architectural embellishments.
39-1-103. Actual value determined – when.
(1) The valuation for assessment of producing mines and nonproducing mining claims shall be determined as provided in article 6 of this title.
(2) The valuation for assessment of leaseholds and lands producing oil or gas shall be determined as provided in article 7 of this title.
(3) The actual value for property tax purposes of the operating property and plant of all public utilities doing business in this state shall be determined by the administrator, as provided in article 4 of this title.
(4) (a) Repealed.
(b) The valuation for assessment of mobile homes shall be determined as provided in section 39-5-203.
(5) (a) All real and personal property shall be appraised and the actual value thereof for property tax purposes determined by the assessor of the county wherein such property is located. The actual value of such property, other than agricultural lands exclusive of building improvements thereon and other than residential real property and other than producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas, shall be that value determined by appropriate consideration of the cost approach, the market approach, and the income approach to appraisal. The assessor shall consider and document all elements of such approaches that are applicable prior to a determination of actual value. The actual value reflects the value of the fee simple estate. Despite any orders of the state board of equalization, no assessor shall arbitrarily increase the valuations for assessment of all parcels represented within the abstract of a county or within a class or subclass of parcels on that abstract by a common multiple in response to the order of said board. If an assessor is required, pursuant to the order of said board, to increase or decrease valuations for assessment, such changes shall be made only upon individual valuations for assessment of each and every parcel, using each of the approaches to appraisal specified in this subsection (5) (a), if applicable. The actual value of agricultural lands, exclusive of building improvements thereon, shall be determined by consideration of the earning or productive capacity of such lands during a reasonable period of time, capitalized at a rate of thirteen percent. Land that is valued as agricultural and that becomes subject to a perpetual conservation easement shall continue to be valued as agricultural notwithstanding its dedication for conservation purposes; except that, if any portion of such land is actually used for nonagricultural commercial or nonagricultural residential purposes, that portion shall be valued according to such use. Nothing in this subsection (5) shall be construed to require or permit the reclassification of agricultural land or improvements, including residential property, due solely to subjecting the land to a perpetual conservation easement. The actual value of residential real property shall be determined solely by consideration of the market approach to appraisal. The valuation for assessment of producing mines and of lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas shall be determined pursuant to articles 6 and 7 of this title 39. In establishing actual value, an assessor shall also consider:
(I) Current use;
(II) Existing zoning and other governmental land use or environmental regulations and restrictions;
(III) Multi-year leases or other contractual agreements affecting the use of or income from the property;
(IV) Easements and reservations of record; and
(V) Covenants, conditions, and restrictions of record.
(b) If, having considered the three approaches prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subsection (5), at the sole discretion of the assessor the use of the three approaches to value cannot accurately determine the actual value of any parcel of taxable property, or in the opinion of the assessor the application of the three approaches to value does not result in uniform, just, and equalized valuation, then the actual value thereof shall be determined by comparison of the surface use of such property with a similar surface use.
(c) Except as provided in section 39-1-102 (14.4) (b) or 39-1-102 (14.4)(c) and in subsections (5)(e) and (5)(f) of this section, once any property is classified for property tax purposes, it shall remain so classified until such time as its actual use changes or the assessor discovers that the classification is erroneous. The property owner shall endeavor to comply with the reasonable requests of the assessor to supply information which cannot be ascertained independently but which is necessary to determine actual use and properly classify the property when the assessor has evidence that there has been a change in the use of the property. Failure to supply such information shall not be the sole reason for reclassifying the property. Any such request for such information shall be accompanied by a notice that states that failure on the part of the property owner to supply such information will not be used as the sole reason for reclassifying the property in question. Subject to the availability of funds under the assessor’s budget for such purpose, no later than May 1 of each year, the assessor shall inform each person whose property has been reclassified from agricultural land to any other classification of property of the reasons for such reclassification including, but not limited to, the basis for the determination that the actual use of the property has changed or that the classification of such property is erroneous.
(d) If a parcel of land is classified as agricultural land as defined in section 39-1-102 (1.6) (a) (III) and the perpetual conservation easement is terminated, violated, or substantially modified so that the easement is no longer granted exclusively for conservation purposes, the assessor may reassess the land retroactively for a period of seven years and the additional taxes, if any, that would have been levied on the land during the seven year period prior to the termination, violation, or modification shall become due.
(e) (I) Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (e) and in paragraph (f) of this subsection (5), if a parcel of land is classified as agricultural land as defined in section 39-1-102 (1.6) and the productivity of such parcel of land is destroyed by a natural cause on or after January 1, 2012, so that, were it not for the destruction of the productivity of the land by a natural cause, the land would have qualified as agricultural land for the following property tax year, the agricultural land classification shall remain in place for the year of destruction and the four subsequent property tax years so long as the assessor receives evidence from the owner that the owner is in the process of rehabilitating the productivity of the land for agricultural use. Such evidence includes, but is not limited to, removing debris, removing contaminants, restoring fences and agricultural structures, reseeding, providing water for livestock, or contouring the land suitable for agricultural use.
(II) the agricultural land classification of the land described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (e) must change according to current use if:
(a) the productivity of the land is not rehabilitated for agricultural use prior to the January 1 after the period described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (e), unless the property owner provides documentary evidence to the assessor that during such period a good faith effort was made to rehabilitate the productivity of the land for agricultural use but that additional time is necessary;
(b) The assessor determines that the classification at the time of destruction of the productivity of the land as a result of a natural cause was erroneous; or
(c) A change of use has occurred. For purposes of this sub-subparagraph (c), a change of use does not include the temporary loss of agricultural classification of the land as a result of the destruction of the productivity of the land by a natural cause.
(f) (I) except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (f), if a parcel of land is classified as agricultural land as defined in section 39-1-102 (1.6) (a) (II) and the productivity of the parcel of land is destroyed by a natural cause on or after January 1, 2012, so that, were it not for the destruction of the productivity of the land by a natural cause, the land would have qualified as agricultural land for the following property tax year, the agricultural land classification shall remain in place notwithstanding the length of the rehabilitation period specified in subparagraph (I) of paragraph (e) of this subsection (5) so long as the owner is in compliance with an approved forest management plan and is on the list provided by the Colorado State Forest Service as having such a plan.
(II) The agricultural land classification of the land described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (f) must change according to current use if:
(a) The assessor determines that the classification at the time of destruction of the productivity of the land as a result of a natural cause was erroneous; or
(b) A change of use has occurred. For purposes of this sub-subparagraph (b), a change of use does not include the temporary loss of agricultural classification of the land as a result of the destruction of the productivity of the land by a natural cause.
(6) and (7) Repealed.
(8) In any case in which sales prices of comparable properties within any class or subclass are utilized when considering the market approach to appraisal in the determination of actual value of any taxable property, the following limitations and conditions shall apply:
(a) (I) Use of the market approach shall require a representative body of sales, including sales by a lender or government, sufficient to set a pattern, and appraisals shall reflect due consideration of the degree of comparability of sales, including the extent of similarities and dissimilarities among properties that are compared for assessment purposes. In order to obtain a reasonable sample and to reduce sudden price changes or fluctuations, all sales shall be included in the sample that reasonably reflect a true or typical sales price during the period specified in section 39-1-104 (10.2). Sales of personal property exempt pursuant to the provisions of sections 39-3-102, 39-3-103, and 39-3-119 to 39-3-122 shall not be included in any such sample.
(II) Because of the unique characteristics and limited number of oil shale mineral interests, a minimum of five arm’s-length sales of reasonably comparable oil shale mineral interests shall be required to constitute a market for purposes of utilization of the market approach to appraisal in determining the actual value of nonproducing oil shale mineral interests.
(b) Each such sale included in the sample shall be coded to indicate a typical, negotiated sale, as screened and verified by the assessor.
(c) All such coded, typical sales samples shall be supplied to the administrator for the performance of his duties.
(d) In no event shall a sales ratio be established or utilized for any class or subclass of property unless and until there have been at least thirty such coded, typical sales or at least five percent of all properties in such class or subclass within the county have been sold and verified by the assessor as coded, typical sales, whichever amount is greater. When such minimum requirement has not been met but typical sales within any such class or subclass indicate that valuations in the class or subclass are too high or too low, such fact shall be reported to the state board of equalization, which board may order an independent appraisal study in such county.
(e) Repealed.
(f) Such true and typical sales shall include only those sales which have been determined on an individual basis to reflect the selling price of the real property only or which have been adjusted on an individual basis to reflect the selling price of the real property only.
(9) (a) In the case of an improvement which is used as a residential dwelling unit and is also used for any other purpose, the actual value and valuation for assessment of such improvement shall be determined as provided in this paragraph (a). The actual value of each portion of the improvement shall be determined by application of the appropriate approaches to appraisal specified in subsection (5) of this section. The actual value of the land containing such an improvement shall be determined by application of the appropriate approaches to appraisal specified in subsection (5) of this section. The land containing such an improvement shall be allocated to the appropriate classes based upon the proportion that the actual value of each of the classes to which the improvement is allocated bears to the total actual value of the improvement. The appropriate valuation for assessment ratio shall then be applied to the actual value of each portion of the land and of the improvement.
(b) In the case of land containing more than one improvement, one of which is a residential dwelling unit, the determination of which class the land shall be allocated to shall be based upon the predominant or primary use to which the land is put in compliance with land use regulations. If multiuse is permitted by land use regulations, the land shall be allocated to the appropriate classes based upon the proportion that the actual value of each of the classes to which the improvements are allocated bears to the combined actual value of the improvements; the appropriate valuation for assessment ratio shall then be applied to the actual value of each portion of the land.
(10) Common property or common elements within a common interest community as defined in the “Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act”, Article 33.3 of Title 38, C.R.S., shall be appraised and valued pursuant to the provisions of Section 38-33.3-105, C.R.S.
(10.5) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that bed and breakfasts are unique mixed-use properties; that all areas of a bed and breakfast, except for the commercial lodging area, are shared and common areas that allow innkeepers and guests to interact in a residential setting; that the land on which a bed and breakfast is located and that is used in conjunction with the bed and breakfast is primarily residential in nature; and that there appears to exist a wide disparity in how assessors classify the different portions of bed and breakfasts.
(b) Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this article 1, a bed and breakfast shall be assessed as provided in this subsection (10.5). The commercial lodging area of a bed and breakfast shall be assessed at the rate for lodging property. Any part of the bed and breakfast that is not a commercial lodging area shall be considered a residential improvement and assessed accordingly. The actual value of each portion of the bed and breakfast shall be determined by the application of the appropriate approaches to appraisal specified in subsection (5) of this section. The actual value of the land containing a bed and breakfast shall be determined by the application of the appropriate approaches to appraisal specified in subsection (5) of this section. The land containing a bed and breakfast shall be assessed as follows:
(I) The portion of land directly underneath a bed and breakfast shall be assessed pursuant to the procedures pertaining to land set forth in subsection (9) of this section.
(II) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that all remaining land shall be assessed as residential land. Such presumption shall only be overcome if there is a nonresidential use not reasonably associated with the operation of the bed and breakfast on some portion of the remaining land, in which case, such portion of the remaining land shall be assessed as nonresidential land.
(III) Subparagraphs (I) or (II) of this paragraph (b) shall not apply to agricultural land.
(10.7) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(I) A nursing home is a unique residential property that is the residence of the individuals living there t the time, regardless of their length of stay; and
(II) There is a discrepancy in how assessing officers classify nursing homes that provide short-term services and nursing homes that provide longer-term services for purposes of calculating property tax.
(III) Therefore, it is important for the general assembly to clarify that all nursing homes, regardless or a resident’s length of stay, must be classified as residential real property.
(b) For property tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2023, land used for a nursing home and any improvements affixed to that land for the use of the nursing home are classified and assessed as residential real property, regardless of a resident’s length of stay.
(11) The general assembly hereby declares that consideration by assessing officers of the cost approach, market approach, and income approach to the appraisal of real property has resulted in valuations of minerals in place which are neither uniform, nor just and equal, because of wide variations within the same locality in quality and quantity of mineral deposits, if any, because of uncertainty in the existence or extent of such deposits, because of difficulty in measuring acquisition or replacement costs, or because of speculative value judgments when minerals in place are not income producing. Therefore, in the absence of preponderant evidence shown by the assessing officer that the use of the cost approach, market approach, and income approach result in uniform and just and equal valuation, minerals in place are not to be considered in determining the actual value of real property.
(12) In any case in which the income approach is utilized in the determination of the actual value of any nonproducing oil shale mineral interests, the following limitations and conditions shall apply:
(a) The assessor shall capitalize the annual rental income for such nonproducing mineral interests at a capitalization rate of thirteen percent. If nonproducing mineral interests are unleased, the assessor shall use the annual rental as defined in paragraph (b) of this subsection (12).
(b) For the purposes of this subsection (12), “annual rental” means annual rental payments, or other compensatory payments payable for the right to hold a mineral interest, which payments are fixed and certain in amount and payable periodically over a fixed period calculated on a twelve-month basis. “Annual rental” shall be the representative annual rental for such mineral interests leased within the county or the area, and “annual rental” does not include royalty payments, advanced royalty payments, bonus payments, or minimum royalty payments covering periods when the mineral interests are not in production, even though said payments may be fixed and certain in amount and payable periodically. For the purposes of this paragraph (b), “royalty payments”, “advanced royalty payments”, and “minimum royalty payments” means payments attributable to a portion of the current or future mineral production of a mineral interest, paid for the privilege of producing minerals, and “bonus payments” means compensation paid as consideration for the granting of a mineral lease or other compensatory payments which are payable regardless of the extent of use of the mineral interest and which are fixed and certain in amount and may be payable in one or more periodical increments over a fixed period.
(13) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that, in the consideration of the cost approach, market approach, and income approach to the appraisal of personal property by assessing officers, the cost approach shall establish the maximum value of property if all costs incurred in the acquisition and installation of such property are fully and completely disclosed by the property owner to the assessing officer.
(b) therefore, in the assessment of taxable personal property, the assessing officer shall consider the value derived from the cost approach to be the maximum value of the property if the property owner has timely filed his declaration and the declaration contains all relevant information pertaining to the valuation of the property and, also includes, a full disclosure of all costs incurred in the acquisition and installation of all personal property owned by or in the possession of the taxpayer.
(c) Assessing officers shall consider the cost approach to the appraisal of property, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection (13), in good faith and shall deny the use of the cost approach only upon just cause that the requirements set forth in this subsection (13) and in section 39-5-116 have not been complied with by a taxpayer. If it is determined at any time that an assessing officer wrongly denied the use of the cost approach, such assessing officer shall be held liable for all costs incurred by the taxpayer in protesting such assessment based on such denial. However, nothing in this subsection (13) shall preclude the assessing officers from considering the market approach or income approach to the appraisal of personal property when such consideration would result in a lower value of the property and when such valuation is based on independent information obtained by the assessing officers.
(14) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that, in determining the actual value of vacant land, there appears to exist a wide disparity in the treatment of vacant land by the assessing officers of the various counties; that the methods of appraisal currently being utilized by assessing officers for such valuation remain unclear; and that such assessing officers are provided detailed information concerning the appraisal of vacant land in the manuals, appraisal procedures, and instructions prepared and published by the administrator.
(b) The assessing officers shall give appropriate consideration to the cost approach, market approach, and income approach to appraisal as required by the provisions of section 3 of article X of the state constitution in determining the actual value of vacant land. When using the market approach to appraisal in determining the actual value of vacant land, assessing officers shall take into account, but need not limit their consideration to, the following factors: The anticipated market absorption rate, the size and location of such land, the cost of development, any amenities, any site improvements, access, and use. When using anticipated market absorption rates, the assessing officers shall use appropriate discount factors in determining the present worth of vacant land until eighty percent of the lots within an approved plat have been sold and shall include all vacant land in the approved plat. The use of present worth shall reflect the anticipated market absorption rate for the lots within such plat, but such time period shall not generally exceed thirty years.
(c) (I) For purposes of this subsection (14), “vacant land” means any lot, parcel, site, or tract of land upon which no buildings or fixtures, other than minor structures, are located. “Vacant land” may include land with site improvements. “Vacant land” includes land that is part of a development tract or subdivision when using present worth discounting in the market approach to appraisal; however, “vacant land” shall not include any lots within such subdivision or any portion of such development tract that improvements, other than site improvements or minor structures, have been erected upon or affixed thereto. “Vacant land” does not include agricultural land, producing oil and gas properties, severed mineral interests, and all mines, whether producing or nonproducing.
(II) For purposes of this subsection (14):
(A) “Minor structures” means improvements that do not add value to the land on which they are located and that are not suitable to be used for and are not actually used for any commercial, residential, or agricultural purpose.
(B) “Site improvements” means streets with curbs and gutters, culverts and other sewage and drainage facilities, and utility easements and hookups for individual lots or parcels.
(d) As soon after the assessment date as may be practicable, the assessor shall mail or deliver two copies of a subdivision land valuation questionnaire for each approved plat within the county to the last-known address of the subdivision developer known or believed to own vacant land within such approved plat. Such questionnaire shall be designed to elicit information vital to determining the present worth of vacant land within such approved plat. Such subdivision developer or his agent shall answer all questions to the best of his ability, attaching such exhibits or statements thereto as may be necessary, and shall sign and return the original copy thereof to the assessor no later than the March 20 subsequent to the assessment date. All information provided by the subdivision developer in such questionnaire shall be kept confidential by the assessor; except that the assessor shall make such information available to the person conducting any valuation for assessment study pursuant to section 39-1-104 (16) and his employees and the property tax administrator and his employees.
(e) If any subdivision developer fails to complete and file one or more questionnaires by March 20, then the assessor may determine the actual value of the taxable vacant land within an approved plat which is owned by such subdivision developer on the basis of the best information available to and obtainable by the assessor.
(15) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that assessing officers shall give appropriate consideration to the cost approach, market approach, and income approach to appraisal as required by section 3 of article X of the state constitution in determining the actual value of taxable property. In the absence of evidence shown by the assessing officer that the use of the cost approach, market approach, and income approach to appraisal requires the modification of the actual value of taxable property for the first year of a reassessment cycle in order to result in uniform and just and equal valuation for the second year of a reassessment cycle, the assessing officer shall consider the actual value of any taxable property for the first year of a reassessment cycle, as may have been adjusted as a result of protests and appeals, if any, prior to the assessment date of the second year of a reassessment cycle, to be the actual value of such taxable property for the second year of a reassessment cycle.
(16) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that in the consideration of the cost approach, market approach, and income approach to appraisal for the valuation of superfund water treatment facilities, the cost approach to appraisal does not adequately reflect characteristics specific to superfund water treatment facilities that negatively impact the value of such facilities, including, but not limited to, the lack of income producing ability and the absence of any market for sale of superfund water treatment facilities. Therefore, in the assessment of superfund water treatment facilities, the income approach to appraisal shall be considered the primary indicator of value and the cost approach or market approach to appraisal shall be used only if the value determined under the cost approach or market approach is less than the value determined under the income approach to appraisal. For the purposes of determining the actual value of superfund water treatment facilities as of the assessment date using the income approach to appraisal, the assessing officer shall capitalize the actual income generated by the facility during the calendar year preceding the assessment date at the rate of ten percent per annum.
(b) For purposes of this subsection (16), “superfund water treatment facilities” means real and personal property that is:
(I) Installed and constructed pursuant to an agreement with or an order of the federal government or the state or any of its political subdivisions and to satisfy the federal “Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 9601, et seq., as amended; and
(II) Operated for the purpose of eliminating, reducing, controlling, or disposing of pollutants, as defined in section 25-8-103 (15), C.R.S., that could alter the physical, chemical, biological, or radiological integrity of state waters if released into state waters.
(17) (a) The general assembly declares that the valuation of possessory interests in exempt properties is uncertain and highly speculative and that the following specific standards for the appropriate consideration of the cost approach, the market approach, and the income approach to appraisal in the valuation of possessory interests must be provided by statute and applied in the valuation of possessory interests to eliminate the unjust and unequalized valuations that would result in the absence of specific standards:
(I) The actual value of any possessory interest of the lessee or permittee of lands owned by the United States and leased or permitted for use for ski area recreational purposes in connection with a business conducted for profit shall be determined by capitalizing at an appropriate rate the annual fee paid to the United States by the lessee or permittee of such land for the use thereof in the immediately preceding calendar year, adjusted to the level of value using a factor or factors to be published by the administrator pursuant to the same procedures and principles as are provided for property in section 39-1-104 (12.3) (a) (I). The rate used to capitalize any fee pursuant to this subparagraph (I) shall include an appropriate rate of return, an appropriate adjustment for the applicable property tax rate, and an appropriate adjustment to reflect the portion of the fee, if any, required to be paid over by the United States to the state of Colorado and its political subdivisions.
(II) (A) Except for possessory interests in land leased or permitted for use for ski area recreational purposes valued in accordance with subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a) and except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (a), the actual value of a possessory interest in land, improvements, or personal property shall be determined by appropriate consideration of the cost approach, the market approach, and the income approach to appraisal. When the cost or income approach to appraisal is applicable, the actual value of the possessory interest shall be determined by the present value of the reasonably estimated future annual rents or fees required to be paid by the holder of the possessory interest to the owner of the underlying real or personal property through the stated initial term of the lease or other instrument granting the possessory interest; except that the actual value of a possessory interest in agricultural land, including land leased by the state board of land commissioners other than land leased pursuant to section 36-1-120.5, C.R.S., shall be the actual amount of the annual rent paid for the property tax year. The rents or fees used to determine the actual value of a possessory interest under the cost or income approach to appraisal shall be the actual contract rents or fees reasonably expected to be paid to the owner of the underlying real or personal property unless it is shown that the actual contract rents or fees to be paid for the possessory interest being valued are not representative of the market rents or fees paid for that type of real or personal property, in which case the market rents or fees shall be substituted for the actual contract rents or fees.
(II) (A) Except for possessory interests in land leased or permitted for use for ski area recreational purposes valued in accordance with sub-subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a) and except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (a), the actual value of a possessory interest in land, improvements, or personal property shall be determined by appropriate consideration of the cost approach, the market approach, and the income approach to appraisal. When the cost or income approach to appraisal is applicable, the actual value of the possessory interest shall be determined by the present value of the reasonably estimated future annual rents or fees required to be paid by the holder of the possessory interest to the owner of the underlying real or personal property through the stated initial term of the lease or other instrument granting the possessory interest; except that the actual value of a possessory interest in land leased by the state board of land commissioners other than land leased pursuant to section 36-1-120.5, C.R.S., shall be the actual amount of the annual rent paid for the property tax year. The rents or fees used to determine the actual value of a possessory interest under the cost or income approach to appraisal shall be the actual contract rents or fees reasonably expected to be paid to the owner of the underlying real or personal property unless it is shown that the actual contract rents or fees to be paid for the possessory interest being valued are not representative of the market rents or fees paid for that type of real or personal property, in which case the market rents or fees shall be substituted for the actual contract rents or fees.
(B) The rents or fees taken into account under the cost or income approach to appraisal under sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (II) shall exclude that portion of the rents and fees required to be paid for all rights other than the exclusive right to use and possess the land, improvements, or personal property. Such rents or fees to be excluded shall include, but shall not be limited to, any portion of such rents or fees attributable to any of the following: Nonexclusive rights to use and possess public property, such as roads, rights-of-way, easements, and common areas; rights to conduct a business, as determined in accordance with guidelines to be published by the administrator; income of the holder of the possessory interest that is not directly derived from and directly related to the use or occupancy of the possessory interest; any amount paid under a timber sales contract or similar agreement for the purchase of timber or for the right to acquire and remove timber; and reimbursement to the owner of the underlying real or personal property of the reasonable costs of operating, maintaining, and repairing the land, improvements, or personal property to which the possessory interest pertains, regardless of whether such costs are separately stated, provided that the types of such costs can be identified with reasonable certainty from the documents granting the possessory interest. The actual value of the possessory interest so determined shall be adjusted to the taxable level of value using a factor or factors to be published by the administrator pursuant to the same procedures and principles as are provided for personal property in section 39-1-104 (12.3) (a) (I).
(III) Subparagraphs (I) and (II) of this paragraph (a) shall not apply to any management contract. In the case of a management contract, the possessory interest shall be presumed to have no actual value. For purposes of this subparagraph (III), “management contract “means a contract that meets all of the following criteria:
(A) The government owner of the real or personal property subject to the contract directly or indirectly provides the management contractor all funds to operate the real or personal property;
(B) The government owns all of the real or personal property used in the operation of the real or personal property subject to the contract;
(C) The government maintains control over the amount of profit the management contractor can realize or sets the prices charged by the management contractor, or the management contractor’s exclusive obligation is to operate and manage the real or personal property for which the management contractor receives a fee;
(D) The government reserves the right to use the real or personal property when is not being managed or operated by the management contractor;
(E) The management contractor has no leasehold or similar interest in the real or personal property;
(F) To the extent the management contractor manages a manufacturing process for the government on the real property subject to the contract, the government owns all or substantially all of the personal property used in the process; and
(G) The real or personal property is maintained and repaired at the expense of the government.
(b) This subsection (17) shall not apply to and shall not be construed to affect or change the valuation of public utilities pursuant to article 4 of this title, the valuation of equities in state lands pursuant to section 39-5-106, the valuation of mines pursuant to article 6 or any other article of this tittle, or the valuation of oil and gas leaseholds and lands pursuant to article 7 of this title.
(18) (a) The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that real property that is located in a district in which limited gaming is authorized but that is not used for limited gaming may be unfairly valued by comparison of said real property with real property that is used for limited gaming. The General Assembly further finds that real property that is located in a gaming district may be reasonably used for purposes other than limited gaming, that such alternative uses may be beneficial in strengthening the economies of gaming districts, and that such alternative uses should be encouraged. In addition, the General Assembly finds that applying the cost and market approaches to appraisal in valuing real property that is located in a limited gaming district but that is not used for limited gaming may result in an unfairly high valuation of real property that is reasonably used for a purpose other than limited gaming. Therefore, the provisions of this subsection (18) shall govern the classification and valuation of real property that is located within a gaming district but that is not used for limited gaming.
(b) For property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1999, if the actual use as of the assessment date of any real property that is located in a limited gaming district but that is not used for limited gaming is used as residential real property, the real property shall be classified as residential real property, and the assessing officer shall determine the actual value of said real property as of the assessment date by applying the market approach to appraisal. If, due to the limited number of real properties located within a limited gaming district that are not used for limited gaming and that are used as residential real property, comparable valuation data is not available for within a limited gaming district to determine adequately the actual value of real property located within said limited gaming district that is not used for limited gaming and that is used as residential real property, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the assessing officer shall consider sales of reasonably comparable residential real property located inside and outside of any limited gaming district for purposes of utilization of the market approach to appraisal in determining the actual value of said real property located within a limited gaming district that is not used for limited gaming and that is used as residential real property.
(c) For property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1999, if the actual use as of the assessment date of any real property that is located in a limited gaming district is not for limited gaming or as residential real property, including but not limited to vacant land, the real property shall be classified as nongaming real property, and the assessing officer shall determine the actual value of said real property as of the assessment date by giving appropriate consideration to the cost, market, and income approaches to appraisal. If, due to the limited number of real properties located within a limited gaming district that are not used for limited gaming or as residential real property, comparable valuation data is not available from within a limited gaming district to determine adequately the actual value of real property located within said limited gaming district that is not used for limited gaming or as residential real property, notwithstanding any law the contrary, the assessing officer shall:
(I) Consider sales of reasonably comparable real property that is not used as residential property located inside and outside of any limited gaming district for the purposes of utilization of the market approach to appraisal in determining the actual value of real property located within a limited gaming district that is not used for limited gaming or as residential real property; and
(II) Consider reasonably comparable real property that is not used as residential property located inside and outside of any limited gaming district for purposes of utilization of the income approach to appraisal in determining the actual value of real property located within a limited gaming district that is not used for limited gaming or as residential real property.
(d) For purposes of this subsection (18), real property is considered to be “used for limited gaming” if the owner or lessee of the real property holds a retail gaming license issued pursuant to part 5 of Article 30 of Title 44, and if the owner or lessee actually uses the real property in offering limited gaming for play or for administrative support services related to providing limited gaming or makes the real property available for other uses by persons who are engaged in limited gaming for play, including but not limited to using the property for parking, for a restaurant, or for a hotel or motel.
39-1-103.5. Restrictions on information.
The state board of equalization or the administrator shall not require any person to furnish financial information concerning commercial or industrial property, except as to the value of the real property for rental purposes only. This section shall not apply to public utilities.
39-1-104. Valuation for assessment.
(1) (a) For property tax years commencing before January 1, 2025, the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state is twenty-nine percent of the actual value thereof as determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and that percentage shall be uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes shall be levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of that percentage.
(b) Not withstanding subsection (1)(a) of this section, for the property tax years commencing on January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, the valuation for assessment of nonresidential property that is classified as lodging property is temporarily reduced to twenty-seven and nine-tenths percent of an amount equal to the actual value minus the lesser of thirty thousand dollars or the amount that reduces the valuation for assessment to one thousand dollars.
(c) This subsection (1) only applies to nonresidential property that is classified as lodging property.
(1.5) Residential real property shall be valued for assessment at twenty-one percent of its actual value, except as provided in section 39-1-104.2.
(1.6) (a) Hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and personal property located at a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast are classified as lodging property, which is a subclass of nonresidential property for purposes of the valuation for assessment. Classification as a lodging property does not affect a partial allocation as residential real property if a lodging property is a mixed-use property.
(b) Real and personal property valued under section 39-4-102 (1) (e) or (1.5) or section 39-5-104.7 is classified as renewable energy production property, which is a subclass of nonresidential property for purposes of the valuation for assessment.
(c) Real and personal agricultural property is a subclass of nonresidential property for purposes of the valuation for assessment.
(1.8) (a) For property tax years commencing January 1, 2025, the valuation for assessment of real and personal property that is classified as agricultural property or renewable energy production property is twenty-nine percent of the actual value thereof; except that, for property tax years commencing on January 1, 2022, January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, the valuation for assessment of this property is temporarily reduced to twenty-six and four-tenths percent of the actual value thereof.
(b) For property tax years commencing before January 1, 2025, the valuation for assessment of all nonresidential property that is not specified in subsection (1) or (1.8)(a) of this section is twenty-nine percent of the actual value thereof; except that, for the property tax years commencing on January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024, the valuation for assessment of this property is temporarily reduced to:
(I) For all of the property listed by the assessor under any improved commercial subclass codes, twenty-seven and nine-tenths percent of an amount equal to the actual value minus the lesser of thirty thousand dollars or the amount that reduces the valuation for assessment to one thousand dollars; and
(II) Twenty-seven and nine-tenths percent of the actual value of all other nonresidential property that is not specified in subsections (1), (1.8)(a), and (1.8)(b)(I) of this section.
(c) The actual value of real and personal property specified in subsection (1.8)(a) or (1.8)(b) of this section is determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and a valuation for assessment percentage is uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the various classes and subclasses of real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes are levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of the percentage.
(d) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “nonresidential property” means all taxable real and personal property in the state other than residential real property, producing mines, or lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas. Nonresidential property includes the subclasses of agricultural property, lodging property, and renewable energy production property for purposes of the ratio of valuation for assessment.
(1.9) (a) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2025, the valuation for assessment for personal property and nonresidential real property is twenty-seven percent of the actual value thereof.
(b) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2026, the valuation for assessment for personal property and nonresidential real property is twenty-six percent of the actual value thereof; except that, for all property listed by the assessor under any improved commercial subclass codes and all real or personal property that is classified as agricultural property, the valuation for assessment is twenty-five percent of the actual value thereof.
(c) For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2027, the valuation for assessment for personal property and nonresidential real property is twenty-five percent of the actual value thereof.
(d) The actual value of real and personal property specified in this subsection (1.9) is determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and a valuation for assessment percentage is uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the various classes and subclasses of real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes are levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of the percentage.
(2) Repealed.
(3) “Valuation for assessment”, as used in this section and in articles 1 to 13 of this title, means the same as the term “assessed valuation” as that term may appear in the laws of this state.
(4) Except as provided in section 39-7-109, nonproducing severed mineral interests are to be valued at twenty-nine percent of actual value in the same manner as other real property specified in subsection (1.8) (b) of this section. Such valuation shall be determined by the assessing officer only upon preponderant evidence shown by such officer that the cost approach, market approach, and income approach result in uniform and just and equal valuation.
(5) to (10.1) Repealed.
(10.2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (12) of this section, beginning with the property tax year which commences January 1, 1989, a reassessment cycle shall be instituted with each cycle consisting of two full calendar years. At the beginning of each reassessment cycle, the level of value to be used during the reassessment cycle in the determination of actual value of real property in any county of the state as reflected in the abstract of assessment for each year in the reassessment cycle shall advance by two years over what was used in the previous reassessment cycle; except that the level of value to be used for the years 1989 and 1990 shall be the level of value for the period of one and one-half years immediately prior to July 1, 1988; except that, if comparable valuation data is not available from such one-and-one-half-year period to adequately determine the level of value for a class of property the period of five years immediately prior to July 1, 1988, shall be utilized to determine the level of value. Said level of value shall be adjusted to the final day of the data gathering period.
(b) During the two years of each reassessment cycle, in preparation for implementation in the succeeding reassessment cycle, the respective assessors shall conduct revaluations of all taxable real property utilizing the level of value for the period which will be used to determine actual value in such succeeding reassessment cycle and the manuals and associated data published for the period which will be used to determine actual value in such succeeding reassessment cycle.
(c) Repealed.
(d) For the purposes of this article and article 9 of this title, “level of value” means the actual value of taxable real property as ascertained by the applicable factors enumerated in section 39-1-103 (5) for the one-and-one-half-year period immediately prior to July 1 immediately preceding the assessment date for which the administrator is required by this article to publish manuals and associated data; except that, if comparable valuation data is not available from such one-and-one-half-year period to adequately determine such actual value for a class of property, “level of value” means the actual value of taxable real property as ascertained by said applicable factors for the five-year period immediately prior to July 1 immediately preceding the assessment date. Said level of value shall be adjusted to the final day of the data gathering period.
(e) Repealed.
(10.3) Repealed.
(11) (a) (I) It is the intent of the general assembly, as manifested in subsection (10.2) of this section, that, when a change occurs in reassessment cycles as prescribed in said subsection, new manuals and associated data will be published by the administrator, pursuant to section 39-2-109 (1) (e), and that said manuals and associated data and the level of value for the year that said manuals and associated data are published shall be utilized by assessors in the manner described in subsection (10.2) of this section for determining the actual value of real property in each county of the state.
(II) The general assembly hereby further finds and declares that it is the intent of paragraph (b) of this subsection (11) to comply with the provisions of section 3 of article X of the state constitution, including the provision which requires the enactment of “general laws, which shall prescribe such methods and regulations as shall secure just and equalized valuations for assessments of all real and personal property”; to reduce the confusion of the owners of taxable property within the state concerning assessment procedures and valuations of such property; to achieve valuations for assessment which represent the current value of such property to the extent which is equitably and practically possible; and to minimize the costs associated with achieving such current valuations for assessment.
(b) (I) The provisions of subsection (10.2) of this section are not intended to prevent the assessor from taking into account, in determining actual value, for the years which intervene between changes in the level of value, any unusual conditions in or related to any real property which would result in an increase or decrease in actual value. If any real property has not been assessed at its correct level of value, the assessor may revalue such property for the intervening year so that the actual value of such property will be its correct level of value; however, the assessor may not revalue such property above or below its correct level of value except as necessary to reflect the increase or decrease in actual value attributable to an unusual condition. For the purposes of this paragraph (b), and except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (b), an unusual condition which could result in an increase or decrease in actual value is limited to the installation of an on-site improvement, the ending of the economic life of an improvement with only salvage value remaining, the addition to or remodeling of a structure, a change of use of the land, the creation of a condominium ownership of real property as recognized in the “Condominium Ownership Act”, article 33 of title 38, C.R.S., any new regulations restricting or increasing the use of the land, or a combination thereof, any detrimental acts of nature, and any damage due to accident, vandalism, fire, or explosion. When taking into account such unusual conditions which would increase or decrease the actual value of a property, the assessor must relate such changes to the level of values as if the conditions had existed at that time.
(II) The creation of a condominium ownership of real property by the conversion of an existing structure shall be taken into account as an unusual condition as provided for in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) by the assessor, when at least fifty-one percent of the condominium units, as defined in section 38-33-103 (1), C.R.S. 1973, in a multi-unit property subject to condominium ownership have been sold and conveyed to bona fide purchasers and deeds have been recorded therefor.
(c) Repealed.
(12) (a) For the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1987, producing mines shall be valued for assessment solely pursuant to article 6 of this title.
(b) For the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1987, oil and gas leaseholds and lands shall be valued for assessment solely pursuant to section 39-7-102.
(c) Repealed.
(12.1) Repealed.
(12.2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (12) of this section, for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1987, the requirement stated in subsections (10.2) and (11) of this section that the actual value of real property be determined according to a specified year’s level of value and manuals and associated data published by the administrator for said specified year pursuant to section 39-2-109 (1) (e) shall apply to the assessment of all classes of real property, including but not limited to the following classes of real property:
(I) (Deleted by amendment, L. 87, p. 1390, section 2, effective April 1, 1987.)
(II) (Deleted by amendment, L. 87, p. 1392, section 2, effective April 1, 1987.)
(III) Operating property and plants of public utilities; and
(IV) Agricultural land.
(V) (Deleted by amendment, L. 87, p. 1385, section 1, effective June 20, 1987.)
(b) This subsection (12.2) shall take effect January 1, 1987.
(12.3) (a) (I) The actual value of personal property is determined by appropriate consideration of such of the three approaches specified in section 39-1-103 (5) (a) as are applicable to the appraisal of such property and is based on the property’s value in use. Subject to review and approval pursuant to section 39-2-109 (1) (e) the administrator shall prepare and publish appraisal procedures and instructions for the annual appraisal of such property that include a definition of “value in use” and a factor or factors to adjust the actual value for the current year of assessment to the level of value applicable to real property.
(II) In determining actual value, depreciation attributable to age shall not exceed that for the actual age of the property on the assessment date. Physical, functional, and economic obsolescence shall be considered in determining actual value.
(b) Repealed.
(12.4) For property tax years commencing on and after January 1, 1987, the requirement stated in subsections (10.2) to (11) of this section that the actual value of real property be determined according to a specified year’s level of value and manuals and associated data published by the administrator for said specified year pursuant to section 39-2-109 (1) (e) shall not apply to the assessment of producing coal mines and other lands producing nonmetallic minerals.
(13) to (15) Repealed.
(16) (a) During each property tax year, the director of research of the legislative council shall contract with a private person for a valuation for assessment study to be conducted as set forth in this subsection (16). The study shall be conducted in all counties of the state to determine whether or not the assessor of each county has, in fact, used all manuals, formulas, and other directives required by law to arrive at the valuation for assessment of each and every class of real and personal property in the county. The person conducting the study shall sample each class of property in a statistically valid manner, and the aggregate of such sampling shall equal at least one percent of all properties in each county of the state. The sampling shall show that the various areas, ages of buildings, economic conditions, and uses of properties have been sampled. Such study shall be completed, and a final report of the findings and conclusions thereof shall be submitted to the state board of equalization, by September 15 of the year in which the study is conducted.
(b) During each property tax year, beginning with the property tax year which commences January 1, 1985, in addition to the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection (16), the study shall set forth the aggregate valuation for assessment of each county for the year in which the study is conducted.
(c) The person conducting any valuation for assessment study pursuant to this subsection (16) and his employees shall, during the term of his contract, have access to any document in the custody of the administrator or an assessor, including, but not limited to, such documents as are held pursuant to sections 39-4-103, 39-5-120, and 39-14-102 (1) (c). The penalties in section 39-1-116 apply against the divulging at any time of any confidential information obtained pursuant to this paragraph (c).
(d) Repealed.
39-1-104.1. Implementation costs – annual revaluation. (Repealed)
39-1-104.2. Residential real property – valuation for assessment – legislative declaration – definitions.
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Inflation” means the annual percentage change in the United States department of labor’s bureau of labor statistics consumer price index, or a successor index, for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for all items paid by urban consumers.
(a.5) “Local governmental entity” means a governmental entity authorized by law to impose ad valorem taxes on taxable property located within its territorial limits; except that the term excludes school districts.
(b) “Multi-family residential real property” means residential real property that is a duplex, triplex or multi-structure of four or more units, all of which are based on the class codes established in the manual published by the administrator. “Multi-family residential real property” is a subclass of residential real property for purposes of the ratio of valuation for assessment.
(c) “Qualified-senior primary residence real property” means property that is classified as such under section 39-1-104.6.
(d) “Target percentage” means the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment represented by the valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property in the year immediately preceding the year in which a change in the level of value occurs.
(e) “Statewide actual value growth” means, as determined pursuant to subsection (8) of this section, an estimate by the administrator based upon the information reported by county assessors pursuant to section 39-2-115 on August 25, 2025, of the difference in the total statewide actual value from the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2024, and the total statewide actual value from the property tax year commencing on January l, 2025.
(2) After careful consideration of all available information, the general assembly hereby finds and declares that the action of the first session of the fifty-sixth general assembly which set the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property at eighteen percent has produced a deviation from the intent of section 3 of article X of the state constitution which ensures that the percentage of the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property shall remain the same as it was in the year immediately preceding the year in which a change occurs in the level of value used in determining actual value. Therefore, the general assembly finds that legislation is necessary for the following purposes: To adjust the residential rate for 1988; to ensure that deviations from the constitutional mandate set forth in section 3 of article X of the state constitution shall not be perpetuated into this or any future year; and to provide a process for future adjustments in the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.
(3) (a) The general assembly, pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1987, but before January 1, 1989, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property fails to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 1986, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1985 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment plus the increased valuation for assessment attributable to new construction and to increased volume of mineral and oil and gas production which occurred during 1986. Therefore, the property tax year commencing January 1, 1988, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be sixteen percent of actual value.
(b) The general assembly, pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1989, but before January 1, 1991, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property fails to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 1988, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1987 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 44.51 percent, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1989, but before January 1, 1991, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be fifteen percent of actual value.
(c) The general assembly, pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1991, but before January 1, 1993, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property fails to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 1990, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1989 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 44.57 percent, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1991, but before January 1, 1993, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 14.34 percent of actual value.
(d) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1993, but before January 1, 1995, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property will fail to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 1992, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1991 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 44.73 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 12.86 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1993, but before January 1, 1995.
(e) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1995, but before January 1, 1997, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will fail to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 1994, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1993 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 45.29 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 10.36 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1995, but before January 1, 1997.
(f) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of Article X of the State Constitution, the General Assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1997, but before January 1, 1999, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will fail to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 1996, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1995 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 46.17 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 9.74 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1997, but before January 1, 1999.
(g) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1999, but before January 1, 2001, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will fail to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 1998, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1997 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 46.49 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 9.74 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1999, but before January 1, 2001.
(h) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2001, but before January 1, 2003, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will fail to remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 2000, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1999 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 46.61 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 9.15 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2001, but before January 1, 2003.
(i) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2003, but before January 1, 2005, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will not remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 2002, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 2001 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 47.08 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 7.96 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2003, but before January 1, 2005.
(j) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2005, but before January 1, 2007, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will not remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 2004, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 2003 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 47.22 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 7.96 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2005, but before January 1, 2007.
(k) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2007, but before January 1, 2009, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will not remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 2006, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 2005 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 47.43 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 7.96 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2007, but before January 1, 2009.
(l) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the State constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2009, but before January 1, 2011, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will not remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 2008, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 2007 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 46.82 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 7.96 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2009, but before January 1, 2011.
(m) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly finds and declares that, for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2011, but before January 1, 2013, the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property will not remain as it was in the property tax year commencing January 1, 2010, when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 2009 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment. Therefore, the administrator having determined pursuant to subsection (4) of this section that the target percentage is 46.53 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property shall be 7.96 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2011, but before January 1, 2013.
(n) Based on the determination by the administrator that the target percentage is 45.86 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.96 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2013, but before January 1, 2015.
(o) Based on the determination by the administrator that the target percentage is 45.67 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.96 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2015, but before January 1, 2017.
(p) Based on the determination by the administrator that the target percentage is 45.76 percent, the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.2 percent of actual value for the property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2017, until the next property tax year that the general assembly adjusts the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.
(q) The valuation for assessment for multi-family residential real property is 7.15 percent of the actual value of the property for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019; except that the valuation for assessment of this property is temporarily reduced as follows:
(I) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024, the valuation for assessment for multi-family residential real property is temporarily reduced to 6.8 percent of the actual value of the property; and
(II) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2023, the valuation for assessment for multi-family residential real property is temporarily reduced to 6.7 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty-five thousand dollars or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars;
(r) The valuation for assessment of all residential real property other than multi-family residential real property is 7.15 percent of the actual value of the property; except that the valuation for assessment of this property is temporarily reduced as follows:
(I) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2022, the valuation for assessment for all residential real property other than multi-family residential real property is temporarily reduced to 6.95 percent of the actual value of the property;
(II) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2023, the ratio of valuation for assessment for all residential real property other than multi-family residential real property is 6.7 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty-five thousand dollars or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars.
(s)(I) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2025, but before January 1, 2027, if there are sufficient excess state revenues, the valuation for assessment for qualified-senior primary residence real property, including multi-family qualified-senior primary residence real property, is:
(A) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2025, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is less than or equal to five percent, for the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.25 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars;
(A.5) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2025, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is greater than five percent, for the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.15 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars;
(B) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2026, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is less than or equal to five percent, for the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.8 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus either fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value plus the lesser of ten percent of the actual value of the property or seventy thousand dollars as increased for inflation in the first year of each subsequent reassessment cycle or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars;
(B.5) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2026, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is greater than five percent, for the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.7 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus either fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value plus the lesser of ten percent of the actual value of the property or seventy thousand dollars as increased for inflation in the first year of each subsequent reassessment cycle or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars;
(C) For the property tax years commencing on January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is less than or equal to five percent, for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district, 7.05 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars; except that the valuation for assessment for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district may be temporarily reduced or a property tax year as set forth in section 29-1-1702.5; and
(D) For the property tax years commencing on January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is greater than five percent, for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district, 6.95 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars; except that the valuation for assessment for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district may be temporarily reduced for a property tax year as set forth in section 29-1-1702.5.
(II) (A) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2025, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is less than or equal to five percent and if it is administratively infeasible to calculate two different valuations for assessment for the same property based on two different percentages of actual value, an assessor may determine the value of a property under subsection (3)(s)(I)(C) of this section by calculating 112.8 percent of an amount equal to 6.25 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars.
(B) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2025, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is greater than five percent and if it is administratively infeasible to calculate two different valuations for assessment for the same property based on two different percentages of actual value, an assessor may determine the value of a property under subsection (3)(s)(l)(d) of this section by calculating 113.00813 percent of an amount equal to 6.15 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of that actual value or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars.
(III) The general assembly finds and declares that any modification to the valuation for assessment established in this subsection (3)(s), exclusive of the termination of any temporary reduction pursuant to section 29-1-1702.5, that would result in a property tax increase would require prior voter approval under section 20 (4)(a) of article X of the state constitution.
(t)(I) For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is less than or equal to five percent, the valuation for assessment for all residential real property other than qualified-senior primary residence real property is:
(A) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.25 percent of the actual value of the property; and
(B) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district, 7.05 percent of the actual value of the property; except that the valuation for assessment for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district may be temporarily reduced for a property tax year as set forth in section 29-1-1702.5.
(II) If it is administratively infeasible to calculate two different valuations for assessment for the same property based on the same actual value, but with two different percentages of that actual value, an assessor may determine the value of a property under subsection (3)(t)(I)(b) of this section by calculating 112.8 percent of an amount equal to 6.25 percent of the actual value of the property.
(III) The general assembly finds and declares that any modification to the valuation for assessment established in this subsection (3)(t), exclusive of the termination of any temporary reduction pursuant to section 29-1-1702.5, that would result in a property tax increase would require prior voter approval under section 20 (4)(a) of article X of the state constitution.
(t.5) (I) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2025, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is greater than five percent, the valuation for assessment for all residential real property other than qualified-senior primary residence real property is:
(A) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.15 percent of the actual value of the property; and
(B) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district, 6.95 percent of the actual value of the property; except that the valuation for assessment for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district may be temporarily reduced for a property tax year as set forth in section 29-1-1702.5.
(II) If it is administratively infeasible to calculate two different valuations for assessment for the same property based on the same actual value, but with two different percentages of that actual value, an assessor may determine the value of a property under subsection (3)(t.5)(I)(b) of this section by calculating 113 .00813 percent of an amount equal to 6.15 percent of the actual value of the property.
(u) (I) For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2026, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is less than or equal to five percent, the valuation for assessment for all residential real property other than qualified-senior primary residence real property is:
(A) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.8 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of ten percent of the actual value of the property, seventy thousand dollars as increased for inflation in the first year of each subsequent reassessment cycle, or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars; and
(B) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district, 7.05 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property; except that the valuation for assessment for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district may be temporarily reduced for a property tax year as set forth in section 29-1-1702.5.
(II) For reassessment cycles commencing on or after January 1, 2027, the property tax administrator shall publish the inflation adjusted value used to calculate the valuation for assessment pursuant to subsection (3)(u)(I)(a) of this section.
(III) The general assembly finds and declares that any modification to the valuation for assessment established in this subsection (3)(u), exclusive of the termination of any temporary reduction pursuant to section 29-1-1702.5, that would result in a property tax increase would require prior voter approval under section 20 (4)(a) of article X of the state constitution.
(u.5) (I) For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2026, if the state board of equalization determines that the statewide actual value growth is greater than five percent, the valuation for assessment for all residential real property other than qualified-senior primary residence real property is:
(A) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a local governmental entity, 6.7 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property minus the lesser of ten percent of the actual value of the property, seventy thousand dollars as increased for inflation in the first year of each subsequent reassessment cycle, or the amount that causes the valuation for assessment of the property to be one thousand dollars; and
(B) For the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district, 6.95 percent of the amount equal to the actual value of the property; except that the valuation for assessment for the purpose of a levy imposed by a school district may be temporarily reduced for a property tax year as set forth in section 29-1-1702.5.
(II) For reassessment cycles commencing on or after January 1, 2027, the administrator shall publish the inflation-increased value used to calculate the valuation for assessment pursuant to subsection (3)(u.5)(I)(a) of this section.
(III) The general assembly finds and declares that any modification to the valuation for assessment established in this subsection (3)(u.5), exclusive of the termination of any temporary reduction pursuant to section 29-1-1702.5, that would result in a property tax increase would require prior voter approval under section 20(4)(a) of article X of the state constitution.
(3.7) (a) The administrator shall convene a working group with representatives, including assessors and elected county officials from small-, medium-, and large-sized counties and a representative of a statewide organization of real estate professionals, to make recommendations about ways to streamline and improve the designation of the primary residence real property in the event that voters approve the ballot issue referred in accordance with section 24-77-202. In formulating its recommendations, the working group shall consider information technology needs and administrative impacts. On or before January 1, 2024, the working group shall provide a report of its recommendations to the senate local government and housing committee, and the house of representatives transportation, housing, and local government committee; except that no report is due if the ballot issue does not pass.
(4) To ensure that in present and future years there is no deviation from the intent of section 3 of article X of the state constitution:
(a) Commencing January 1, 1989, for each year in which there is a change in the level of value, the administrator shall determine the target percentage in order to ensure that the percentage of the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property remains the same as it was in the year immediately preceding the year in which such change occurs. In determining the target percentage, the administrator shall use data concerning valuation for assessment which has been adjusted to eliminate the effects of having rounded the then current residential rate to the nearest whole percent. The net increase in valuation for assessment attributable to new construction and to the net increase in the volume of mineral and oil and gas production shall be added to the valuation for assessment, as so adjusted. The sum so determined shall be the basis on which the target percentage is calculated.
(b) In order to implement the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), the administrator shall use data concerning the 1987 valuation for assessment when the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment was based on the 1985 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment plus the net increase in valuation for assessment attributable to new construction and to the net increase in the volume of mineral and oil and gas production which occurred during 1986. The administrator shall add the 1988 net increase in valuation for assessment attributable to new construction and the net increase in the volume of mineral and oil and gas production to the 1987 aggregate statewide valuation for assessment, and the resulting amounts shall be the basis for determining the target percentage for 1989.
(5) (a) Commencing January 1, 1989, for each year in which there is a change in the level of value used in determining actual value, the general assembly, pursuant to the authority granted in section 3 of article X of the state constitution, shall, by law, adjust the residential rate in order that the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property for such year equals the target percentage.
(b) The residential rate shall be based on a documented estimate of the total valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state arrived at by projecting the percentage of change in the level of value for each class of taxable property to all taxable property in such class in the state.
(c) The administrator shall be responsible for ensuring that a documented estimate study is completed by the division of property taxation.
(6) No later than January 15 of each year in which there is a change in the level of value used in determining actual value, the administrator shall report to the state board of equalization:
(a) An estimate of the total valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state;
(b) An estimate of the percentage of aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which would be attributable to residential real property if the residential rate fixed in current law remained the same. Such estimate shall be based upon the projected valuations as determined by the documented study.
(c) The target percentage as determined under paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of this section;
(d) The projected residential rate. The rate shall be rounded to the nearest whole percentage, and the rate shall ensure that the percentage of the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment which is attributable to residential real property shall remain as it was in the year immediately preceding the year in which such change occurs.
(7) (a) Repealed.
(8) (a) As soon as practicable upon receiving the information described in section 39-2-115 (l)(a.5), the administrator shall determine the statewide actual value growth and report that determination to the state board of equalization, and the state board of equalization shall certify the statewide actual value growth, whether that growth is less than or equal to five percent, and determine which of the valuations for assessment described in subsection (3) of this section apply in property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025.
(b) Upon the state board of equalization determining which of the valuations for assessment determined pursuant to this section apply in property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the state board of equalization shall notify the administrator, and the administrator shall publish those valuations for assessment on the website maintained by the division of property taxation in the department of local affairs.
(c) The general assembly finds and declares that any modification to the valuations for assessment that the state board of equalization determines are applicable in property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, pursuant to this subsection (8) that would result in a property tax increase would require prior voter approval under section 20(4)(a) of article X of the state constitution.
39-1-104.3. Partial real property tax reductions – residential property- definitions – repeal.
Repealed by SB23B-001
39-1-104.4. Adjustment of residential rate.
Repealed by SB24-233
39-1-104.5. Severed mineral interest-placement on tax roll.
Any owner of the surface estate from which a mineral interest has been severed, on behalf of himself and any other owners of such interest in the surface, may require the assessor of the county wherein such real estate is situate to place such severed mineral interest, without regard to value, on the tax roll of the county if the owner of the surface estate provides proof of ownership of the severed mineral interest and a record of the creation of the severed mineral interest as shown by the records of the county clerk and recorder. Proof of ownership and the record of creation of the severed mineral interest shall be provided in the form of a certificate prepared by an attorney, a title insurance company, or a title insurance agent authorized to do business in this state.
39-1-104.6. Qualified-senior primary residence real property – valuation for assessment – reimbursement to local governments for reduced valuation – temporary mechanism for refunding excess state revenues – legislative declaration – definitions.
(10) Reimbursement as refund of excess state revenues.
(c) As used in this subsection (10), unless the context otherwise requires, “revenue lost as a result of the classification of real property as qualified-senior primary residence real property” means revenue that is lost as a result of certain residential properties being classified as “qualified-senior primary residence real property”, and having a valuation for assessment determined pursuant to section 39-1-104.2 (3)(s), rather than being classified as “all residential real property other than qualified-senior primary residence real property” and having a valuation for assessment determined pursuant to section 39-1-104.2 (3)(t), (3)(t.5), (3)(u), and (3)(u.5).
39-1-104.7. Total program balancing adjustment of residential rate – definitions..
(Section repealed)
39-1-105. Assessment date.
All taxable property, real and personal, within the state at twelve noon on the first day of January of each year, designated as the official assessment date, shall be listed, appraised, and valued for assessment in the county wherein it is located on the assessment date. Personal property shall be listed and valued separately from real property. Whenever construction of any new taxable building within the boundaries of a county occurs subsequent to the assessment date but before July 1, and such county has resolved to implement the procedures set out in section 39-5-132, such building shall be listed, appraised, and valued pursuant to section 39-5-132.
39-1-105.5. Reappraisal ordered based on valuation for assessment study-state school finance payments.
(1) (a) Repealed.
(b) (I) Pursuant to section 39-1-104 (16) (b), for each property tax year beginning with the property tax year which commences January 1, 1985, the annual study shall, in addition to other requirements, determine and set forth the aggregate valuation for assessment of each county for the year in which the study is conducted.
(II) (A) If the valuation for assessment of a county as reflected in its abstract for assessment for any property tax year beginning with the property tax year commencing January 1, 1985, is more than five percent below the valuation for assessment for such county as determined by the study conducted during the same property tax year, the state board of equalization shall cause to be performed a reappraisal of any class or classes of property that the study shows were not appraised consistent with the property tax provisions of the Colorado constitution or the statutes. The reappraisal must be performed during the next following year at the expense of the county; except that the state board of equalization may waive the requirement that the county reimburse the state for any costs incurred by the state in reappraising any class or classes of property if the county presents the state board with a plan to use the money retained to improve the functioning of the office of the county assessor. If the county fails to implement the plan submitted in a timely manner as agreed upon by the state board and the county, the state board shall revoke the waiver and require the county to reimburse the state for reappraisal costs incurred by the state. The reappraisal is the county’s valuation for assessment with regard to the reappraised class or classes for the year in which the reappraisal is performed.
(B) Even though a county’s aggregate valuation for assessment as reflected in its abstract for assessment for any property tax year beginning with the property tax year commencing January 1, 1985, is not more than five percent below the valuation for assessment for such county as determined by the study conducted during the same property tax year, the state board of equalization shall cause to be performed a reappraisal of any class or classes of property that the study shows were not appraised consistent with the property tax provisions of the Colorado constitution or the statutes. The reappraisal must be performed during the next following year at the expense of the county; except that the state board of equalization may waive the requirement that the county reimburse the state for any costs incurred by the state in reappraising any class or classes of property if the county presents the state board with a plan to use the money retained to improve the functioning of the office of the county assessor. The reappraisal is the county’s valuation for assessment with regard to the reappraised class or classes of property for the year in which the reappraisal is performed.
(III) Whenever a reappraisal is ordered pursuant to subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), state equalization payments to school districts within the county during the year in which the reappraisal is performed shall be based upon the valuation for assessment as reflected in the county’s abstract for assessment for the year prior to the year in which the reappraisal is performed. The state board of equalization shall order the county’s board of county commissioners to levy, and the board of county commissioners shall levy, an additional property tax on all taxable property within the county. Such additional property tax shall be levied at the same time as other property taxes are levied during the year in which the reappraisal is performed. Such additional property tax shall be in an amount which is sufficient to reimburse the state for the excess state equalization payments made to school districts within the county during the year in which the reappraisal is performed. The county’s board of county commissioners shall reimburse the state for such excess state equalization payments. Such excess shall be that amount of the state equalization payments actually paid by the state to the county during the year in which the reappraisal is performed based on the incorrect valuation for assessment as reflected in the county’s abstract for assessment for the immediately prior year which amount exceeds the state equalization payments the state would have paid during the year in which the reappraisal is performed had the valuation for assessment for the immediately prior year been determined by the assessor consistent with the provisions of the Colorado constitution and the statutes. In addition, the additional property tax shall e sufficient to pay to the state, and the board of county commissioners shall pay to the state, interest on such excess at the interest rate determined by the state banking commissioner pursuant to section 39-21-110.5.
(IV) If the valuation for assessment of a county as reflected in its abstract for assessment for any property tax year beginning with the property tax year commencing January 1, 1985, is more than five percent below the valuation for assessment for such county as determined by the study conducted during the same property tax year and if the state board of equalization fails to order a reappraisal, state equalization payments to school districts within the county during the year next following the year in which the study was performed shall be based upon the valuation for assessment for the county as reflected in the county’s abstract for assessment for the year in which the study was conducted. At the same time as other property taxes are levied during the year in which such state equalization payments are made, the county’s board of county commissioners shall levy an additional property tax on all taxable property within the county. Such additional property tax shall be in an amount sufficient to reimburse the state for the difference between the amount the state actually paid in state equalization payments during the year following the year in which the study was performed and what the state would have paid during such year had the state equalization payments been based on the valuation for assessment as determined by the study. The county’s board of county commissioners shall reimburse the state for such difference.
(V) Any finding made in 1988 pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b) shall be based primarily on data and information collected from within the county in question, except where data is lacking or deficient. If data from outside the county must be used, then that data must be from a comparable area. If any finding made utilizing the study conducted for the property tax year commencing on January 1, 1987, was based upon data and information comparing taxable property in one county with taxable property in the county subject to such finding, the state board of equalization shall revise such finding so that any orders made pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b) are based solely on data and information collected from within each affected county.
(2) Any reimbursement made by a county to the state for the cost incurred by the state in reappraising any class or classes of taxable property for property tax purposes pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be made to the state treasurer who shall credit the amount of the reimbursement to the state general fund. For purposes of this section, the costs of salary and benefits for state employees who work on reappraisals is not a reimbursable cost incurred by the state.
39-1-106. Partial interests not subject to separate tax.
For purposes of property taxation, it shall make no difference that the use, possession, or ownership of any taxable property is qualified, limited, not the subject of alienation, or the subject of levy or distraint separately from the particular tax derivable therefrom. Severed mineral interests shall also be taxed.
39-1-107. Tax liens.
(1) The lien of general taxes for the current year, including taxes levied pursuant to section 39-5-132, shall attach to all taxable property, real and personal, at 12 noon on the assessment date.
(2) Taxes levied on real and personal property, together with any delinquent interest, advertising costs, and fees prescribed by law with respect to any such taxes as may have become delinquent, shall be a perpetual lien thereon, and such lien shall have priority over other liens until such taxes, delinquent interest, advertising costs, and fees shall have been paid in full.
(3) Repealed.
(4) The property tax on a possessory interest in real or personal property that is exempt from taxation under this article shall be assessed to the holder of the possessory interest and collected in the same manner as property taxes assessed to owners of real or personal property; except that such property tax shall not become a lien against the property. When due, the property tax shall be a debt due from the holder of the possessory interest to the board of county commissioners for the county in which such property is located or to such other body as is authorized by law to levy property taxes, and shall be recoverable by such board or body by direct action in debt on behalf of each governmental entity for which a property tax levy has been made.
39-1-108. Payment of taxes – grantor and grantee.
As between the grantor and grantee of property other than property described in 39-5-104.5, when the instrument of conveyance does not contain an express agreement as to which party shall pay the taxes that may be levied on the property conveyed in the year in which conveyed, if such conveyance is made after the thirty-first day of December and before the first day of July next following, the grantee shall pay such taxes; but if the conveyance is made after the thirtieth day of June and before the first day of January next following, the grantor shall pay such taxes.
39-1-109. Taxes paid by mortgagee – effect.
If the mortgagor of real property fails or neglects to pay the taxes levied on such property or permits such property to be sold for taxes, the mortgagee may pay said taxes or redeem such property if sold for taxes, and any taxes so paid or redeemed shall become and be a lien upon such real property until the same have been repaid to the mortgagee. Upon payment of any such mortgage or in an action to enforce the same, such mortgagee may demand the taxes so paid or redeemed, with interest thereon at the same rate specified in the mortgage, and the same shall be included in any judgment rendered on the mortgage. The term “mortgage” includes deeds of trust, and the term “mortgagee” includes the beneficiary of a deed of trust.
39-1-110. Notice – formation or boundary change of special district.
(1) (a) When any petition for the organization of a political subdivision is filed, the clerk of any court or board or any other officer with whom the petition has been filed shall immediately, in writing, notify the assessor and the board of county commissioners of each county in which the proposed political subdivision is to be located and the division of local government of the filing, and such notice shall specify the boundaries of the proposed political subdivision. No political subdivision shall levy a tax for the calendar year in which it has been organized unless, prior to July 1 of said year, the assessor and the board of county commissioners of each county within which such political subdivision is located have been notified of its organization and have received from its governing body the following:
(I) Official notice that a tax will be levied for such year;
(II) A legal description; and
(III) A map of the political subdivision.
(b) No levy for the calendar year in which a political subdivision has been organized shall be made by the board of county commissioners or certified to the assessor unless the political subdivision has complied with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1).
(1.5) No political subdivision that is a special district shall levy a tax against property included in the special district for the calendar year during which such property was included unless, prior to May 1 of said year or, if such property is included in the special district pursuant to section 32-1-401 (2), C.R.S., prior to July 1 of said year, the court order of inclusion has been filed with the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the inclusion took place in accordance with the provisions of section 32-1-105, C.R.S.
(1.8) A political subdivision that is a special district shall not levy a tax against property excluded from the special district for the calendar year during which such exclusion becomes effective if, prior to May 1 of said year, the court order of exclusion has been filed with the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the exclusion took place in accordance with the provisions of section 32-1-105, C.R.S.
(2) Whenever all or any portion of a political subdivision becomes part of another county by reason of any change in county boundaries, the governing body of such political subdivision shall, within thirty days after the effective date of such change, notify, in writing, the assessor and the board of county commissioners of the county, of which all or any portion of such political subdivision has become a part, of its intention to levy a tax for the year in which such change became effective.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any school district, junior college district, health service district created pursuant to section 32-1-1003, C.R.S., or health assurance district created pursuant to section 32-1-1003.5, C.R.S.
(4) For purposes of this section, “special district” means a special district formed in accordance with the provisions of title 32, C.R.S.
39-1-111. Taxes levied by board of county commissioners.
(1)(a) No later than December 22 in each year, the board of county commissioners in each county of the state, or such other body in the city and county of Denver as shall be authorized by law to levy taxes, or the city council of the city and county of Broomfield, shall, either by an order to be entered in the record of its proceedings or by written approval, levy against the valuation for assessment of all taxable property located in the county on the assessment date, and in the various towns, cities, school districts, and special districts within such county, the requisite property taxes for all purposes required by law.
(b)(I) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2023, the deadline set forth in subsection (1)(a) of this section is postponed from December 22, 2023, to January 17, 2024.
(II) The subsection (1)(b) is repealed, effective July 1, 2025.(2) As soon as such levies have been made, the board of county commissioners or other body authorized by law to levy taxes, or either group’s authorized party shall forthwith certify all such levies to the assessor, upon forms prescribed by the administrator, and shall transmit a copy of such certification to the administrator, to the division of local government, and to the department of education.
(2) As soon as such levies have been made, the board of county commissioners or other body authorized by law to levy taxes, or either group’s authorized party shall forthwith certify all such levies to the assessor, upon forms prescribed by the administrator, and shall transmit a copy of such certification to the administrator, to the division of local government, and to the department of education.
(3) If the board of county commissioners or other body authorized by law to levy taxes, or either party’s authorized party fails to certify such levies to the assessor, it is the duty of the assessor, upon direction of the division of local government, to extend the levies of the previous year, subject to the limitations prescribed in section 29-1-301.
(4) (a) If the valuation for assessment for all or any part of any body authorized to levy taxes has been divided for an urban renewal area, pursuant to section 31-25-107 (9) (a), the board of county commissioners shall make the same levy on the portion of valuation for assessment divided under section 31-25-107 (9) (a) (II), as under section 31-25-107 (9) (a) (I), for payment of taxes according to the provisions of section 31-25-107 (9) (a), so long as the division remains in effect.
(b) If the valuation for assessment for all or any part of any body authorized to levy taxes has been divided for a county revitalization area, pursuant to section 30-31-109 (13)(a), the board of county commissioners shall make the same levy on the portion of valuation for assessment divided under section 30-31-109 (13)(a)(II) as under section 30-31-109 (13)(a)(I) for payment of taxes according to the provisions of section 30-31-109 (13)(a), so long as the division remains in effect.
(5)(a) If, after certification of the valuation for assessment pursuant to section 39-5-128 and notification of actual value pursuant to section 39-5-121 (2) (b) but prior to December 10, changes in such valuation for assessment or total actual value are made by the assessor, the assessor shall send a single notification to the board of county commissioners or other body authorized by law to levy property taxes, to the division of local government, and to the department of education that includes all of such changes that have occurred during said specified period of time. Upon receipt of such notification, such board or body shall make adjustments in the tax levies to ensure compliance with section 29-1-301, if applicable, and may make adjustments in order that the same amount of revenue be raised. A copy of any adjustment to tax levies shall be transmitted to the administrator and assessor. Nothing in this subsection (5) shall be construed as conferring the authority to exceed statutorily imposed mill levy or revenue-raising limits.
(b)(I) For the property tax year commencing on January 1, 2023, the deadline set forth in subsection (5)(a) of this section is postponed from December 22, 2023, to January 17, 2024.
(II) The subsection (1)(b) is repealed, effective July 1, 2025.
39‑1‑111.5. Temporary property tax credits and temporary mill levy rate reductions.
(1) In order to effect a refund for any of the purposes set forth in section 20 of article x of the state constitution, or to provide property tax relief by a temporary reduction in property taxes due, any local government may approve and certify a temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction as set forth in this section. A district, as defined in section 22-54-103 (5), may not reduce a mill levy below the minimum amounts provided in section 22-54-106. The procedures set forth in this section shall be deemed to be a reasonable method for effecting refunds in accordance with section 20 of article X of the state constitution and for providing temporary property tax relief. A temporary reduction in property taxes due for the purpose of property tax relief is subject to annual renewal..
(2) Concurrent with the certification of its levy to the board of county commissioners as required pursuant to section 39‑5‑128 (1), any local government may certify a temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction. The certification must include the local government’s gross mill levy, the temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction expressed in mill levy equivalents, and the net mill levy, which must be the gross mill levy less the temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction. A district, as defined in section 22-54-103 (5), may not certify a net mill levy below the minimum amounts provided in section 22-54-106.
(3) Concurrent with certification to the assessor of all mill levies by the board of county commissioners or other body authorized by law to levy taxes, or by either group’s authorized party, in accordance with section 39‑1‑111 (2), the board of county commissioners shall certify any other local government’s temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction and any temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction for the county or city and county itself, itemized as set forth in subsection (2) of this section.
(4) Concurrent with the delivery to the treasurer of the tax warrant by the assessor in accordance with section 39‑5‑129 the assessor shall, in addition to all other information required to be set forth in the tax warrant, itemize in the manner set forth in subsection (2) of this section any duly certified temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction.
(5) Upon receipt of any tax warrant reflecting a temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction for any local government, the treasurer shall be responsible for collecting taxes on behalf of the local government based upon the local government’s net adjusted mill levy. In addition to any other information required by section 39‑10‑103, the tax statement must indicate by footnote which, if any, local government mill levies in the tax statement reflect a temporary property tax credit or temporary mill levy rate reduction for the purpose of effecting a refund in accordance with section 20 of article X of the state constitution or for providing temporary property tax relief.
39-1-112. Taxes available – when.
Except as otherwise provided in article 1.5 of this title, all taxes levied pursuant to the provisions of articles 1 to 13 of this title shall be available for expenditure by the political subdivision for which levied during its fiscal year, as collected.
39-1-113. Abatement and refund of taxes.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1.5) of this section, no decision on any petition regarding abatement or refund of taxes, as provided for in section 39-10-114, shall be made by the board of county commissioners unless a hearing is had thereon, at which hearing the assessor and the taxpayer shall have the opportunity to be present. The board may appoint independent referees who are experienced in property valuation to conduct the hearing on behalf of the board, to make findings, and to submit recommendations to the board for its final decision.
(1.5) Upon authorization by the board of county commissioners, the assessor may review petitions for abatement or refund and settle by written mutual agreement any such petition for abatement or refund in an amount of ten thousand dollars or less per tract, parcel, or lot of land or per schedule of personal property. Any abatement or refund agreed upon and settled pursuant to this subsection (1.5) shall not be subject to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
(1.7) Every petition for abatement or refund filed pursuant to section 39-10-114 shall be acted upon pursuant to the provisions of this section by the board of county commissioners or the assessor, as appropriate, within six months of the date of filing such petition.
(2) (a) Whenever any abatement or refund in an amount of ten thousand dollars or less is recommended by the board of county commissioners, the board shall order the abatement of taxes pro rata for all levies applicable to such property, or, in the case of a refund, the board shall order the refund of taxes pro rata by all jurisdictions receiving payment thereof.
(b) Whenever any abatement or refund in an amount of ten thousand dollars or less has been agreed upon and settled by the assessor pursuant to subsection (1.5) of this section, the assessor shall order the abatement of taxes pro rata for all levies applicable to such property, or, in the case of a refund, the assessor shall order the refund of taxes pro rata by all jurisdictions receiving payment thereof.
(3) Whenever any abatement or refund in an amount in excess of ten thousand dollars is recommended by the board of county commissioners, two copies of an application therefor, reciting the amount of such abatement or refund and the grounds upon which it should be allowed, shall be submitted to the administrator for review pursuant to section 39-2-116. If an application is approved, the board of county commissioners shall order the abatement of taxes pro rata for all levies applicable to such property, or, in the case of a refund, the board of county commissioners shall order the refund of taxes pro rata by all jurisdictions receiving payment thereof.
(4) (Deleted by amendment, L. 91, p. 1962, § 2, effective June 5, 1991.)
(5) (a) If a hearing is required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the board of county commissioners shall provide at least seven days’ notice of the scheduled hearing on a petition for abatement and refund of taxes to the person signing such petition and the taxpayer if the taxpayer did not sign the petition. Except as authorized in paragraph (b) of this subsection (5), notice shall be provided by sending to such person through the United States mail notification of the date, time, and place of the hearing.
(b) A board of county commissioners may authorize by resolution a person required to be notified by paragraph (a) of this subsection (5) or such person’s agent to elect to receive the notice by fax or electronic mail at a phone number or electronic mail address supplied by such person. If no election is made by such person, the board of county commissioners shall mail the required notice.
(6) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, for taxes levied on and after January 1, 1990, a taxpayer may file a petition for abatement or refund of taxes levied on property if the valuation of such property was the subject of an arbitration hearing pursuant to section 39-8-108.5 and the arbitrator presiding over such hearing failed to deliver a decision to the taxpayer prior to the beginning date of the period during which the assessor sits to hear all objections and protests concerning the valuation of such property in the year following the year in which such arbitration hearing was held.
39-1-114. Who may administer oath.
Whenever any fact, matter, or thing is required by the provisions of articles 1 to 13 of this title to be verified by oath or affirmation, any assessor, treasurer, or county clerk and recorder, or a deputy of any of said officers, may administer such oath or affirmation. The deputy need not certify the oath in the name of the principal.
39-1-115. Records prima facie evidence.
The assessment rolls, the tax warrants, the entries made in the books of the treasurer, and the lists of lands sold for taxes recorded by the treasurer or the county clerk and recorder, or a certified copy thereof, shall be prima facie evidence of all things appearing therein in all courts and places.
39-1-116. Penalty for divulging confidential information.
Except when pursuant to an order of any court of competent jurisdiction or as otherwise provided by law, any person who divulges or makes known in any way the contents of any private document, as specified in section 39-4-103, 39-5-120, or 39-7-101 (4), to any person not authorized to have access to such documents commits a petty offense.
39-1-117. Prior actions not affected.
Nothing in articles 1 to 13 of this title shall apply to or in any manner affect any valuation, assessment, allocation, levy, tax certificate, tax warrant, tax sale, tax deed, right, claim, demand, lien, indictment, information, warrant, prosecution, defense, trial, cause of action, motion, appeal, judgment, sentence, or other authorized act, done or to be done, or proceeding arising under or pursuant to the laws in effect immediately prior to August 1, 1964, but the same shall be governed by and conducted pursuant to the provisions of law in effect immediately prior to August 1, 1964.
39-1-118. Repeal of law levying state property tax – disposition of funds.
After the repeal of any law levying a general property tax for the state or for state purposes takes effect, delinquent taxes collected by county treasurers as a result of the levy imposed by any such repealed law shall, when received by the state treasurer, be credited to the capital construction fund.
39-1-119. Funds held for payment of taxes – refund – reduction and increase of amounts – penalty.
(1) Subject to Section 39-3.5-105 (2), all funds in excess of those permitted to be held by the Federal “Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974”, 12 U.S.C. sec. 2601 et seq., as amended from time to time, and any rules promulgated to implement that federal law, as amended from time to time, held in escrow for the payment of ad valorem taxes on property under any deed of trust, mortgage, or other agreement encumbering or pertaining to real property located in this state shall be refunded to the property owner at the time and in the manner required by the federal law and rules. This subsection (1) applies whether or not the federal law and rules would apply to the deed of trust, mortgage, or other agreement in the absence of this subsection (1).
(2) Payments into such escrow accounts for the payment of ad valorem taxes due in subsequent years shall be adjusted annually, based upon the amount of taxes paid on the subject property for the preceding year, but if such person reasonably believes that substantial improvements have been made to such property, which improvements were not included within the previous year’s assessment, a reasonable estimate of the taxes for such subsequent years may be used as a basis for establishing the payments for such escrow account.
(2.5) The amount of payments into such escrow accounts for the payment of ad valorem taxes due in subsequent years shall be increased only upon official notification of an increase in the amount of taxes levied on such property. Such amounts shall not be increased based solely upon notification of an increase in the valuation for assessment of such property.
(3) Any person willfully failing to make a refund in violation of subsection (1) of this section for any whole month or more shall be liable for interest at a rate of six percent per annum and an equal amount as penalty.
39-1-119.5. Funds collected by lessors of personal property for payments of taxes – refund – damages.
(1) If a personal property lessee is required to make payment to a lessor pursuant to the terms of any contract or other agreement entered into between the lessee and lessor for the payment of personal property tax due on or after January 1, 2007, those payments shall be accounted for upon the termination of the lease entered into between the lessee and lessor. If it is determined upon this accounting that a refund is due to the lessee for overpayment of personal property taxes, the lessor shall make such refund to the lessee on or before August 31 of the year in which the tax is due.
(2) The lessor shall base the accounting and refund on the actual property tax liability due in each year of the lease period.
(3) Any lessor who willfully fails to make a refund in violation of subsection (1) of this section shall be liable to the lessee, in a civil action, in an amount equal to the sum of three times the amount of actual damages sustained and in the case of any successful action to enforce said liability, the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney fees as determined by the court.
(4) Any action brought under this section shall be commenced within three years after the date on which the failure to refund occurred or within three years after the lessee discovered or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered the lessor’s failure to refund. The period of limitation provided in this section may be extended for a period of one year if the lessee proves that failure to timely commence the action was caused by the lessor engaging in conduct calculated to induce the lessee to refrain from or postpone the commencement of the action.
39-1-120. Filing – when deemed to have been made.
(1) (a) Any report, schedule, claim, tax return, statement, or other document required or authorized under articles 1 to 9 of this title to be filed with or any payment made to the state of Colorado or any political subdivision thereof which is transmitted through the United States mails shall be deemed filed with and received by the public officer or agency to which it was addressed on the date shown by the cancellation mark stamped on the envelope or other wrapper containing the document required to be filed.
(b) Any such document which is mailed, but not received by the public officer or agency to which it was addressed, or is received and the cancellation mark is not legible, or is erroneous or omitted shall be deemed to have been filed and received on the date it was mailed if the sender establishes by competent evidence that the document was deposited in the United States mails on or before the date due for filing. In such cases of nonreceipt of a document by the public officer or agency to which it was addressed, the sender shall file a duplicate copy thereof within thirty days after written notification is given to the sender by such public officer of the failure to receive such document.
(2) If any report, schedule, claim, tax return, statement, remittance, or other document is sent by United States registered mail, certified mail, or certificate of mailing, a record authenticated by the United States postal service of such registration, certification, or certificate shall be considered competent evidence that the report, schedule, claim, tax return, statement, remittance, or other document was mailed to the public officer or agency to which it was addressed, and the date of the registration, certification, or certificate shall be deemed to be the postmark date.
(3) If the date for filing any report, schedule, claim, tax return, statement, remittance, or other document falls upon a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it shall be deemed to have been timely filed if filed on the next business day.
39-1-121. Expression of rate of property taxation in dollars per thousand dollars of valuation for assessment.
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Communication” includes, but is not limited to, any tax statement pursuant to section 39-10-103 or any public notice of increased levy pursuant to section 22-40-102, 29-1-302, or 29-1-303, C.R.S.
(b) “Mill” means the rate of property taxation equivalent to the amount of dollars per one thousand dollars of valuation for assessment of taxable real or personal property.
(c) “Valuation for assessment” means the actual value of any real or personal property multiplied by the assessment percentages specified in section 3 of article X of the state constitution.
(2) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that communications to taxpayers regarding the imposition of property taxes expressed in mills can be unduly confusing to the general public. The general assembly further finds, determines, and declares that, for the convenience of taxpayers and to assist citizens in better understanding the property taxation system, it is advantageous for governmental entities levying property taxes to inform taxpayers of such tax rates in terms of the amount of dollars per one thousand dollars of valuation for assessment of taxable real or personal property.
(3) In any communication to a taxpayer, any mill levy amounts stated shall be converted into the amount of dollars per one thousand dollars of valuation for assessment of taxable real or personal property.
39-1-122. Interim task force to study property tax assessment – classification – land used for agricultural and other purposes – 2010 interim – legislative declaration – repeal.
(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that:
(a) It is within the power of the general assembly and section 3 of article X of the state constitution to classify property for purposes of taxation;
(b) The touchstone of property classification in Colorado is actual use of the property at the time of assessment;
(c) Property may be used for more than one purpose and, therefore, raise competing considerations as to the manner in which it should be classified;
(d) An agricultural classification means that the actual value of a property is based on its productive capacity rather than its market value and it is assessed for taxation at twenty-nine percent of its actual value, as with all other nonresidential property;
(e) A residential classification means that the actual value of a property is based on its market value, which may result in a higher taxable value even though it is assessed for taxation at less than eight percent of its actual value;
(f) Property actively used for agricultural purposes should be protected against excessive property valuation and taxation, but agricultural classification that benefits property not actively used for agricultural operations should be reevaluated;
(g) The implementation of a new classification methodology in Colorado could affect the distribution of the property tax burden and the calculation of the residential assessment rate; and
(h) It is important to consider how any change in Colorado’s system of property taxation will affect the distribution of the property tax burden among taxpayers and how it will interact with other Colorado laws.
(2) (a) There is hereby created the land assessment and classification task force, referred to in this section as the “task force”, which shall meet during the interim after the second regular session of the sixty-seventh general assembly to study assessment and classification of agricultural and residential land, report its findings and recommendations, and, if appropriate, propose statutory modifications to ensure that land is valued based on its actual use.
(b) The members of the task force shall consist of the following nine members:
(I) The property tax administrator or the administrator’s designee;
(II) Four members who are owners or lessees of real property that is currently assessed as agricultural land and who are actively involved in either farming or ranching, appointed by the commissioner of agriculture;
(III) Two county commissioners, one from each side of the continental divide, appointed by a statewide organization representing county commissioners; and
(IV) Two county assessors, one from each side of the continental divide and from counties other than the counties represented pursuant to subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (b), to be appointed by a statewide organization representing county assessors.
(c) All appointments to the task force shall be made on or before June 15, 2010.
(3) (a) The task force shall study, make recommendations, and report findings on all matters relating to property tax assessment and classification in connection with land used for both agricultural and residential purposes, including, without limitation, the current system for classification of agricultural and residential property in Colorado, the fiscal, land use, and other impacts of the state’s current classification system, and ideas for improving the current classification system.
(b) The task force shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the local government and agriculture committees of the senate and house of representatives by October 15, 2010. Upon request of a member of the task force, summaries of dissenting opinions shall be prepared and attached to the final report of findings and recommendations.
(4) (a) The task force shall meet at least four times, with the first meeting occurring no later than August 2, 2010.
(b) Meetings of the task force shall be public meetings.
(5) The task force shall solicit and accept reports and public testimony and may request other sources, including but not limited to the national conference of state legislatures, representatives from state and local government, property owners, nonprofit organizations, and appropriate trade groups, to provide testimony, written comments, and other relevant data to the task force.
(6) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation and shall not be entitled to reimbursement for expenses.
(7) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2012.
39-1-123. Property tax reimbursement – property destroyed by natural cause.
(1) Eligibility. For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2013, real or business personal property listed on a single schedule that was destroyed by a natural cause as defined in section 39-1-102 (8.4), as determined by the county assessor in the county in which the property is located, shall be subject to a reimbursement from the State in an amount equal to the property tax liability applicable to the destroyed property in the property tax year in which the natural cause occurred.
(2) Report of destroyed properties.
(a) (I) for the property tax year commencing January 1, 2013, on or before July 1, 2014, or on or before October 1, 2014, for public utilities identified in article 4 of this title, the assessor of each county with property destroyed by a natural cause during the year shall forward to the applicable county treasurer a Report of the taxable real or business personal property in the county that was destroyed by a natural cause. The report must include the information specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2).
39-1-124. Mailing required to be sent by county assessor or treasurer – reasonable certainty mailing will not be delivered.
If a county assessor or treasurer has reasonable certainty the a mailing or notice required to be sent pursuant to this title 39 will not be delivered to a residential real property address by the United States postal service, the county assessor or treasurer is not required to send the mailing or notice to that residential real property address; except that this section does not apply to notices required to be sent pursuant to sections 39-11-128 and 39-10-111.5 (6)(b).