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Tax Expenditure Evaluations

Section 39-21-305(1)(c.5) and (d), C.R.S., requires the State Auditor to evaluate all of the State’s tax expenditures at least once prior to the legislative session before they are scheduled to expire and gives the State Auditor discretion to evaluate an expenditure again if there have been substantial changes to the expenditure. Additionally, Section 39-21-306, C.R.S. requires that we annually report on the impact of the State’s policy of using federal taxable income as the basis for Colorado taxable income including any changes that may significantly impact the State's tax base.

Section 39-21-403(2)(c)(I), C.R.S., requires the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy to consider our tax expenditure evaluation reports' policy considerations and review of federal income tax law. It also allows the Committee to direct the State Auditor to evaluate up to three additional tax expenditures per year and prepare up to two reports annually on specific and discrete topics related to existing tax policy. We publish evaluation reports as they are completed throughout the year. Our anticipated review schedule through June 30, 2025 is provided below. Please note that this schedule will be updated periodically.

Fiscal Year 2027 Reports

Expenditure/Topic Reason for Review Publication Date
Child Care Contribution Credit Statute requires us to publish a report by September 15, 2026. Published August 2026
Child Income Tax Credit New expenditure that we have not previously reviewed. November 2026
Sports Betting Excise Tax Deductions  New expenditures that we have not previously reviewed. November 2026
Excise Tax Credits for Products Returned, Destroyed, or Shipped Out of State, and Reduced Excise Tax Rate for Nicotine Products that are Modified Risk New expenditures that we have not previously reviewed. November 2026
Reduced Excise Tax Rates for Cigarette and Tobacco Products that are Modified Risk New expenditures that we have not previously reviewed. December 2026
Electric Lawn Equipment Income Tax Credit Update Memo Report on updated data on the use of the credit. February 2027
Income Tax Deduction for Employer Contributions to 529 Accounts Expenditure that we had not previously reviewed. March 2027
Job Growth Income Tax Credit Last reviewed in 2022. We selected the expenditure for re-review. April 2027
Tax Topic - Apportionment and Allocation of Income Report on the State’s requirements for apportioning and allocating income for tax purposes. April 2027
Charitable Contribution Income Tax Deduction Update Memo Report on the interaction between the federal income tax deduction, which was recently modified, and the State’s income tax deduction. June 2027
Income Tax Deduction for Net Capital Gains on Colorado Agricultural Property Update Memo Report on the impact of legislative changes to the expenditure in recent years. June 2027
Federal Report Required annually. Statute requires us to publish our next report by June 30, 2027. June 2027

Recently Released Reports and Memos

The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is committed to ensuring equitable access to its digital publications in accordance with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), and relevant Colorado statutes. OSA reports are confidential until publicly released, and will be made available in an accessible format following release. Reports determined to be in active use, as defined in 8 CCR 1501-11 § 11.4 (2025), as well as those published on or after July 1, 2024 will be remediated to meet applicable accessibility standards. Reports published prior to July 1, 2024 are classified as archived content pursuant to 8 CCR 1501-11 § 11.4 (2025) and may be provided in an accessible format following a reasonable accommodation request based on an individualized determination.

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Report Title Issue Date Report No.
Child Care Contribution Income Tax Credit August 2026 2026-TE6
Report on Federal Tax Law Provisions and Changes that Impact the Colorado Tax Base June 2026 2026-TE5
Wildfire Mitigation Measures Income Tax Credit June 2026 2026-TE4
Declared Wildfire Disaster Rebuild Sales and Use Tax Refund June 2026 2026-TE3
Employer Assistance for Home Purchase Tax Expenditures Memo April 2026 2026-TE2
Alternative Transportation Options Tax Credit March 2026 2026-TE1
Residential Energy Storage System Tax Expenditures December 2025 2025-TE15
Electric Lawn Equipment Credit December 2025 2025-TE14
Homeless Contribution Income Tax Credit November 2025 2025-TE13
Report on Business Incentive Tax Expenditures September 2025 2025-TE12
Increasing Taxpayer Awareness and Utilization of Tax Expenditures June 2025 2025-TE11
Report on Federal Tax Law Provisions and Changes that Impact the Colorado Tax Base June 2025 2025-TE10
Software Sales Tax Exemption Memo June 2025 2025-TE9
Oil and Gas Severance Tax Deduction Memo May 2025 2025-TE8
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Incentives Memo May 2025 2025-TE7
Senior Housing Income Tax Credit June 2025 2025-TE6
Regional Home Office Insurance Premium Tax Rate Reduction March 2025 2025-TE5
Essential Hygiene Products Exemptions March 2025 2025-TE4
Early Childhood Educator Credit February 2025 2025-TE3
Rural Jump-Start Tax Expenditures February 2025 2025-TE2
Colorado ABLE Savings Account Contribution Deduction January 2025 2025-TE1
Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemptions December 2024 2024-TE8
Agricultural Applicator Aviation Fuel Tax Refund August 2024 2024-TE7
Fuel Excise Tax Expenditures June 2024 2024-TE6
Business Personal Property Tax Income Tax Credit June 2024 2024-TE5
State Income Tax Refund Deductions February 2024 2024-TE4
Tax-Exempt Organization Insurance Premium Tax Deduction February 2024 2024-TE3
Dyed Special Fuels and Off-Road Fuel Use Tax Expenditures February 2024 2024-TE2
Deduction of Wages and Salaries Due to IRC 280C February 2024 2024-TE1
Residential Energy Storage Credit Memo November 2023 2023-TE22
Film Incentive Tax Credit Memo November 2023 2023-TE21
Alternative Transportation Options Credit for Employers Memo November 2023 2023-TE20
Child Care Expenses Income Tax Credits December 2023 2023-TE19
Organ Donor Employer Credit December 2023 2023-TE18
Fraternal Society Exemption November 2023 2023-TE17
Credit for Unsalable Alcohol November 2023 2023-TE16
Contaminated Land Redevelopment Credit November 2023 2023-TE15
Wholesales Sales Tax Exemption August 2023 2023-TE14
Agricultural Sales Tax Exemptions August 2023 2023-TE13
Credit for Insolvency Assessments Paid August 2023 2023-TE12
Rural & Frontier Healthcare Preceptor Credit August 2023 2023-TE11
Credit for Taxes Paid to Other States May 2023 2023-TE10
Farm Close-Out Sales Tax Exemption May 2023 2023-TE9
Sales to Charitable Organizations Exemption May 2023 2023-TE8
Sacramental Wine Exemption May 2023 2023-TE7
Newsprint & Printer's Ink and Newspapers Exemptions May 2023 2023-TE6
Structural Insurance Premium Tax Expenditures February 2023 2023-TE5
Wildfire Mitigation Deduction February 2023 2023-TE4
Long-Term Lodging Exemption February 2023 2023-TE3
Military Retirement Benefits Deduction January 2023 2023-TE2
Home Modification Tax Credit January 2023 2023-TE1

Evaluation Reports by Tax Type

Tax Compilation, Federal Income Tax, and Tax Topic Reports

On an annual basis, the OSA publishes a tax expenditures compilation report, which includes all individual tax expenditure reports published during the fiscal year. In addition, we annually publish a federal tax law report and up to two tax topics reports, as directed by the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy.

What is a Tax Expenditure?


State statute defines a tax expenditure as a tax provision that provides a gross or taxable income definition, deduction, exemption, credit, or rate for certain persons, types of income, transactions, or property that results in reduced tax revenue. Tax expenditures are typically not subject to any state agency’s oversight or the State’s annual budget and appropriations process, but are called expenditures because they decrease available state funds by reducing the amount of revenue the State collects from excise, income, insurance premium, sales and use, and severance taxes.

The Department of Revenue's Tax Profile and Expenditure Report summarizes all state tax expenditures.

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Additional Tax Resources

Additional information on the State of Colorado's tax policies and tax collection process is available through Colorado Legislative Council Staff and the Colorado Department of Revenue's Taxation Division.