TaxLienSimple

The TaxLienSimple Index / Colorado

The TaxLienSimple Index · CO · 2026

Colorado Tax-Lien & Tax-Deed Investing

What Colorado statute actually pays — return, redemption and bid method — cross-referenced with the live auction inventory we track. Every figure traces to state law or a county source.

Statutes verified Jul 29, 2026

45 /100
Tier D National rank #33 of 51
The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.
Sale type
Tax Lien
Statutory return / penalty
9 percentage points above the federal discount rate in effect Sept 1 each year (e.g. 14%/yr for 2025 liens); premium paid over taxes is NOT refunded and earns no interest
Redemption period
3 years (before holder may apply for a Treasurer's Deed)
Bid method
premium bid
Sale season
primarily October-November
What you buy
tax lien certificate; later treasurer deed process

Statutory note. Interest accrues only on the base taxes/fees, not on the premium overbid — large premiums sharply dilute the effective yield (C.R.S. §§39-11-115, 39-12-103).

335live parcels tracked
10counties with inventory
#33of 51 jurisdictions
Read the score correctly. The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

Remote Investor Snapshot

Verified public-data profile for out-of-area investors — every figure below traces to the cited government source. Blank fields mean the source does not publish that value for this area (we never estimate).

Market & demographics

Population
5,770,790
5-yr population growth
+6.1% growing
Median household income
$87,598
Median age
37.3
Poverty rate
9.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Housing market

Median home value
$465,900
Median gross rent
$1,594/mo
Owner-occupied
66.2% 33.8% renter
Vacancy rate
8.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Property-tax burden

Median real-estate taxes
$2,278/yr
Effective property-tax rate
0.49% of home value

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Natural-hazard risk & safety

Unemployment rate
3.4%

Source: FEMA National Risk Index (2023); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (2023 annual)

Growth & livability signals

New residential permits
39,404 units, 2023
Broadband subscription
91.8%
Bachelor's degree +
43.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (2023); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (household broadband subscription; FCC availability not yet integrated); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (educational attainment — school-quality proxy; NCES ratings not yet integrated)

Risk & opportunity flags

Opportunity Zone tracts
126 tax-advantaged
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites
15
EPA Brownfield sites
1,110

Source: U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund / IRS designated Opportunity Zones; U.S. EPA (SEMS National Priorities List; ACRES Brownfields)

Counties we track in Colorado

#CountyTaxLienSimple IndexLive parcels
1 El Paso County C 46 163
2 Larimer County C 46 5
3 Douglas County C 45 52
4 Jefferson County C 45 50
5 Teller County D 44 25
6 Costilla County D 44 15
7 Park County D 43 12
8 Garfield County D 43 6
9 Summit County D 43 4
10 Pitkin County D 42 3

Colorado tax sale — FAQ

What is the TaxLienSimple Index for Colorado?

Colorado scores 45/100 (Tier D), ranked #33 of 51 jurisdictions. The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

How does redemption and return work in Colorado?

9 percentage points above the federal discount rate in effect Sept 1 each year (e.g. 14%/yr for 2025 liens); premium paid over taxes is NOT refunded and earns no interest Redemption period: 3 years (before holder may apply for a Treasurer's Deed). Interest accrues only on the base taxes/fees, not on the premium overbid — large premiums sharply dilute the effective yield (C.R.S. §§39-11-115, 39-12-103).

What is Colorado's statutory return on a tax lien or tax deed purchase?

9 percentage points above the federal discount rate in effect Sept 1 each year (e.g. 14%/yr for 2025 liens); premium paid over taxes is NOT refunded and earns no interest Interest accrues only on the base taxes/fees, not on the premium overbid — large premiums sharply dilute the effective yield (C.R.S. §§39-11-115, 39-12-103).

What is the bid method for Colorado tax sales?

Colorado uses a premium bid method for its tax lien sales.

Does Colorado use tax-lien auctions or tax-deed sales?

Colorado uses a tax lien system. Interest accrues only on the base taxes/fees, not on the premium overbid — large premiums sharply dilute the effective yield (C.R.S. §§39-11-115, 39-12-103).

See the actual parcels in Colorado

Browse the live tax-lien, deed and foreclosure inventory we track — search by county, redemption window and opening bid.

Browse live auction inventory →  ·  Colorado tax delinquent property list →  ·  Colorado state guide →  ·  Set a max bid →  ·  Academy: what a tax lien actually is →
The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

© 2026 TaxLienSimple · The TaxLienSimple Index is compiled from state tax statutes and county treasurer/tax-collector offices; live inventory counts reflect parcels currently tracked by TaxLienSimple and update continuously. Nothing here is investment or legal advice.