PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
                                                               AND DISABLED VETERANS

The Senior Citizens and Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption described below as they currently exist in Colorado statute.  Under the authority  provided to the General Assembly by the Colorado Constitution, the exemption amount can be changed or eliminated.  Senate Bill 10-190, effective July 1, 2010, suspends the property tax exemption for qualifying seniors for the 2010 and 2011 tax year's payable in 2011 and 2012.   Per Colorado Revised Statues,  the assessor will continue to notify residential property owners, process applications, and submit data to the Division of Property Taxation.

This bill eliminates only the senior exemption benefit, the disabled veteran exemption remains in place.

A property tax exemption is available to senior citizens, surviving spouses of senior citizens, and disabled veterans.  For those who qualify, 50 percent of the first $200,000 in actual value of their primary residence is exempted.  The state pays the exempted portion of the property tax.  Once approved, the exemption remains in effect for future years, and the applicant should not reapply.  Application requirements are as follows:

SENIOR EXEMPTION  The exemption is available to applicants who: a) are at least 65 years of age as of  January1 of the year of application, b) owned their home for at least 10 years as of January 1,  and c) occupied it as their primary residence for at least 10 years as of January 1.  Limited exceptions to the ownership and  occupancy requirements are detailed in the qualifications section of the application.  The senior exemption is also available to surviving spouses of seniors who met the requirements on any January 1 after 2001.  The application deadline is July 15.  The application form is available from and should be  submitted to:

Clear Creek County Assessor's Office
 P.O. Box 2000
405 Argentine
Georgetown, CO  80444
email

DISABLED VETERAN EXEMPTION    The exemption is available to applicants who: a)  sustained a service-connected disability while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, b) were honorably discharged, and c) were rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as one hundred percent "permanent and total" disabled.  VA unemployability awards do not meet the requirement for determining an applicant's eligibility.  The applicant must have owned and occupied the home as his or her primary residence since January 1 of the year of application; however, limited exceptions to the ownership and occupancy requirements are detailed in the eligibility requirements section of the application.  The application deadline is July 1.  Application forms are available from the Division of Veteran Affairs at the address and telephone number shown below and from the web site of the Colorado Division of Property Taxation at www.dola.colorado.gov/dpt/forms/index.htm .  Completed applications should be submitted to the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs at the following address: 

Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Division of Veterans Affairs
7465 E. 1st Avenue, Suite C
Denver. CO 80230
Telephone: 303-343-1268   Fax:  303-343-7238
http://www.dmva.state.co.us