Colorado has not yet announced whether a TABOR refund will happen in 2025

The state legislature decides each year whether Colorado's budget surplus is large enough to trigger a TABOR refund. That decision typically comes in the spring, during the budget session. As of now, no official announcement has been made about 2025, so you cannot know for certain whether money will be refunded until the legislature acts.

TABOR refunds are not automatic. Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights requires the state to refund money only when two conditions are met: the state has collected more revenue than the law allows it to keep, and the legislature votes to send that money back instead of keeping it for schools, roads, or other spending. Some years both conditions are met. Other years the state spends the surplus or the legislature votes to keep it. In 2024, Colorado did not send a TABOR refund.

If a refund does happen in 2025, it will likely arrive in the fall or winter of that year, after the legislature has finished its budget work and the state has finalized its revenue numbers.

Key Takeaways

  • The Colorado legislature decides in spring whether a TABOR refund will happen that year, based on whether the state collected more money than TABOR allows it to keep.
  • A refund is not may provide even when the state has a surplus — the legislature can vote to spend the money instead.
  • If a 2025 refund is approved, it will most likely arrive in the fall or winter, after the budget session ends and revenue is finalized.
  • You do not need to do anything to receive a refund if one is approved — the state sends it automatically to taxpayers who filed a return.
  • The refund amount varies year to year and depends on how large the surplus is and how many people are sharing it.

How the legislature decides whether to send a refund

Colorado's TABOR law sets a spending limit based on the previous year's revenue plus population growth and inflation. If the state collects more than that limit allows, the surplus must be returned to taxpayers or spent on schools and roads only — it cannot go into the general fund. The legislature then votes on what to do with the surplus.

In some years, the legislature votes to keep the money and spend it on education or transportation. In other years, it votes to refund it. There is no rule that forces a refund, even when the surplus exists. The decision is political and depends on what the legislature thinks is best for the state budget at that moment.

For 2025, watch for announcements from the Colorado Department of Revenue or the legislature's Joint Budget Committee during the spring session, which typically runs from January through May. That is when the state will know whether a surplus exists and whether lawmakers will vote to refund it.

What happened with TABOR refunds in recent years

Colorado sent TABOR refunds in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, the state refunded $750 per household to most taxpayers. In 2023, the refund was $1,125 per household. Both years, the state had collected significantly more revenue than TABOR allowed it to keep, and the legislature voted to send the money back.

In 2024, Colorado did not send a TABOR refund. The state still had a surplus, but the legislature voted to keep the money and spend it on schools, transportation, and other priorities instead. This shows that even when a surplus exists, a refund is not certain.

The size of any refund depends on the total surplus and how many people are may be able to access to share it. There is no way to predict in advance what the amount will be, because it depends on how much revenue the state actually collects during the year.

Who receives a TABOR refund if one is approved

If Colorado sends a TABOR refund in 2025, it will go to people who filed a Colorado income tax return for the previous tax year. You do not have to do anything to receive it — the state sends it automatically. The refund is based on your tax filing status and income, not on how much tax you paid.

The refund goes to the address on file with the Colorado Department of Revenue. If you filed electronically and provided a bank account for a refund, the state may deposit it directly to that account instead of mailing a check. You can check your address and banking information on your most recent tax return or by contacting the department.

If you did not file a Colorado return for the year in question, you will not receive a refund. This includes people who had no income, people who moved out of state, and people who were not required to file.

How to track a TABOR refund once it is approved

Once the legislature votes to send a refund, the Colorado Department of Revenue will announce the amount and the timeline for delivery. The state typically mails checks or deposits funds between September and December of the year the refund is approved.

You can check the status of a TABOR refund by visiting the Colorado Department of Revenue website or calling their taxpayer service line. Have your Social Security number and the tax year in question ready. The department can tell you whether a refund was sent, when it was sent, and how to report it if you never received it.

If you moved after filing your tax return, update your address with the Colorado Department of Revenue before the refund is sent. If a check is mailed to an old address and you do not receive it, the state can reissue it once you provide your current address.

What to do if you do not receive a TABOR refund

If a refund is approved and you believe you should have received one but did not, contact the Colorado Department of Revenue. Have your tax return and Social Security number ready. The department can check whether a refund was issued in your name and where it was sent.

If a check was mailed but you never received it, the state can issue a replacement. If the refund was deposited to a bank account and you do not see it, the department can investigate whether the deposit went through. In some cases, the state may need to reissue the refund to a different account or as a check.

If you filed a joint return with a spouse, both names should be on the refund. If you are divorced or separated, contact the department to make sure the refund goes to the correct person.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Colorado announce whether there is a 2025 TABOR refund?

The legislature typically makes this decision during the spring budget session, which runs from January through May. An announcement usually comes in April or May, once the state has finalized its revenue numbers for the previous year. Watch the Colorado Department of Revenue website or the legislature's Joint Budget Committee for updates.

How much will the 2025 TABOR refund be if it happens?

The amount cannot be predicted in advance because it depends on how much revenue the state collects and how many people are may be able to access to share it. Recent refunds have ranged from $750 to $1,125 per household, but the 2025 amount could be different. The state will announce the amount once the legislature votes to send a refund.

Do I have to do anything to get a TABOR refund?

No. If a refund is approved, the state sends it automatically to anyone who filed a Colorado income tax return. You do not need to apply or contact the state. Make sure your address is current with the Colorado Department of Revenue so the refund reaches you.

What if I did not file a Colorado tax return?

You will not receive a TABOR refund if you did not file. This includes people with no income, people who moved out of state, and people who were not required to file. Only people who filed a return for the tax year in question are may be able to access.

Can I check the status of a TABOR refund online?

Yes. Once a refund is approved, the Colorado Department of Revenue website will have information about the amount, timeline, and how to check your refund status. You can also call the department's taxpayer service line with your Social Security number to ask whether a refund was sent and when.