Do I have to apply for the TABOR refund?

No. TABOR refunds are automatic — they are calculated directly on your Colorado income tax return (Form DR 0104). You must file a Colorado income tax return to receive the refund, even if you have no other Colorado tax liability. If you don't normally file, file a zero-income return to claim your TABOR refund. There is no separate TABOR refund form or application.

Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (TABOR) limits how much revenue the state can keep. The cap grows each year by the rate of inflation plus population growth. When actual collections exceed the cap in a fiscal year, the surplus must be refunded to taxpayers. If Colorado collects at or below the cap, there is no TABOR refund that year.

Why was TY2022 the largest refund?

TY2022 was exceptional because Colorado collected a very large surplus and the legislature chose to distribute it as a flat "Colorado Cash Back" of $750 per filer ($1,500 joint) regardless of income. This was a political choice — equal-dollar refunds instead of the usual proportional mechanism. Prior years, the refund was distributed through a temporary income tax rate reduction, which favored higher earners proportionally.

Will there be a TABOR refund every year?

Not necessarily. TABOR refunds only occur when Colorado's revenue exceeds the constitutional cap. In years when revenue is at or below the cap (typically during recessions or slow-growth periods), there is no refund. The late 2010s and early 2020s produced consistent refunds; economic conditions determine future refunds. Check colorado.gov/revenue for current-year projections.

How do TABOR refunds interact with what I owe on my Colorado return?

The TABOR refund is a credit on your Colorado DR 0104. If you owe Colorado income tax, the TABOR credit reduces that amount. If the TABOR credit exceeds your Colorado income tax liability, the difference is refunded to you. The refund is not considered income for federal or Colorado purposes.

Tax

Colorado TABOR Refund Calculator — TY2022, TY2023 & TY2024

Calculate your Colorado TABOR refund for tax years 2022–2024. Refunds are automatic on Form DR 0104 — no separate application needed. See how much Colorado owes you.

By The FinCalc TeamUpdated May 30, 2026

Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) limits state revenue growth to inflation plus population growth. When Colorado collects more than the cap allows, the surplus must be refunded to taxpayers. TABOR refunds are automatic — they appear as a credit on your Colorado income tax return (DR 0104) with no separate application required. Refund amounts vary significantly by year based on how much Colorado over-collected: TY2022 was $750 per filer, TY2024 was only $160. This calculator shows exactly what you're owed for each year.

How Colorado TABOR Refunds Work

TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) is a constitutional provision unique to Colorado. It creates a revenue cap and mandatory refund mechanism:

The cap formula:

TABOR Cap (current year) = Prior year revenue × (1 + inflation rate + population growth rate)

When Colorado's actual tax revenue exceeds this cap, the entire surplus must be refunded to taxpayers within the following tax year.

Refund mechanisms by year:

| Tax Year | Mechanism | Single | Joint | |----------|-----------|--------|-------| | TY2022 | Flat "Colorado Cash Back" | $750 | $1,500 | | TY2023 | 3-tier income-based | $640–$800 | $1,280–$1,600 | | TY2024 | Flat (smaller surplus) | $160 | $320 |

TY2023 tiers (single filer):

Colorado AGI ≤ $47,000: $800 refund
Colorado AGI $47,001–$95,000: $720 refund
Colorado AGI > $95,000: $640 refund

Joint filers receive double the applicable single amount.

How to claim: File Form DR 0104. The TABOR credit appears automatically — no separate form needed. Must file a Colorado return even if no other liability.

When to Use This Calculator

Use this calculator when:

Verifying your expected Colorado refund — Confirm exactly what TABOR credit to expect on your DR 0104 for a specific tax year. The amount varies significantly year to year.
Tax planning for Colorado residents — TABOR refunds can offset Colorado income tax owed. Knowing the refund amount helps you plan estimated tax payments.
Comparing refund years — TY2022's $750 refund vs. TY2024's $160 refund illustrates the year-to-year variance. If you moved to Colorado or are considering it, this history shows the benefit is real but inconsistent.
Filing for prior years — If you didn't file a Colorado return for TY2022 or TY2023 but were a Colorado resident, you may still be able to file and claim the TABOR refund for those years (check the Colorado statute of limitations).
Explaining TABOR to someone unfamiliar with Colorado taxes — The calculator and its historical table provide clear context on how the constitutional refund mechanism works in practice.

Understanding the Inputs

Tax Year: The year of the Colorado income tax return on which the refund appears. Each year has different refund amounts based on Colorado's actual surplus. TY2022 (filed spring 2023) had the largest modern refund under the "Colorado Cash Back" flat structure. TY2023 used income-based tiers. TY2024 was a much smaller flat refund due to a smaller surplus.
Filing Status: Joint filers typically receive double the single-filer amount. Married filing separately generally uses the single rate. Colorado computes TABOR refunds per filer, not per household, which is why joint filers receive the combined amount for two filers.
Colorado AGI: Your Colorado Adjusted Gross Income. Only relevant for TY2023, which used a three-tier system where higher-income filers received a smaller refund per filer. For TY2022 and TY2024, the refund is flat regardless of income — AGI does not affect the refund amount.

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The FinCalc Team

Personal Finance Experts

The FinCalc team is a group of personal finance writers, analysts, and engineers dedicated to building accurate, transparent financial calculators. Every formula is verified against industry standards and explained in plain language.

Last reviewed and updated: May 30, 2026