When Will Coloradans Get Their TABOR Refunds in 2026?
Tax season may be just around the corner, but Coloradans will have to wait a bit before seeing their TABOR refunds hit their accounts.
TABOR, short for the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, limits how much revenue the state can collect and requires any excess to be returned to taxpayers. In recent years, that’s meant refund checks ranging from around $200 to $800 for single filers.
For the 2025 tax year, refunds are expected to be much smaller, between $20 and $62 for single filers and $40 to $124 for joint filers, according to the state auditor’s office and the latest revenue forecast.
Refund timing depends on when taxpayers file their returns. State tax filing typically opens in mid-to-late January, and early filers who opt for direct deposit can expect their refund within about two weeks. Paper checks tend to take longer.
The Colorado Department of Revenue notes that taxpayers must claim their TABOR refunds when filing state income taxes, so the process follows normal refund timing. However, delays can occur if the state begins processing returns later than usual, as it did this past year when returns weren’t accepted until late February.
While 2026 refunds will be smaller than in recent years, forecasts suggest there will be no refunds for 2027, with payments expected to return again the following year.
In short, file early, opt for direct deposit, and expect a modest refund in 2026, because every dollar counts.
