Colorado Code § 39-3-205

Exemption applications - penalty for providing false information - confidentiality
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(1) (a) To claim the exemption allowed by section 39-3-203 (1), an individual
shall file with the assessor a completed exemption application no later than July 15 of the first
property tax year for which the exemption is claimed. An application returned by mail shall be
deemed filed on the date it is postmarked.
(b) To claim the exemption allowed by section 39-3-203 (1.5), an individual shall file
with the assessor a completed exemption application and proof of qualifying veteran with a
disability status no later than July 1 of the first property tax year for which the exemption is
claimed. An application returned by mail shall be deemed filed on the date it is postmarked. An
individual who filed an exemption application with the division rather than with the assessor as
was required before this subsection (1)(b) was amended by Senate Bill 23-036, enacted in 2023,
and who qualified for and received an exemption for a property tax year commencing before
January 1, 2024, retains the exemption and is not required to submit a new application or proof
of qualifying veteran with a disability status to the assessor.
(2) (a) An exemption application shall be a form prescribed by the administrator, who
shall consult with the division before prescribing the form of the application for the exemption
allowed by section 39-3-203 (1.5), and shall require an applicant to provide the following
information:
(I) The applicant's name, mailing address, date of birth, and social security number;
(II) The address and schedule or parcel number of the residential real property for which
an exemption is claimed;
(III) The name and social security number of each individual who occupies as his or her
primary residence the residential real property for which an exemption is claimed;
(IV) If a trust is the owner of record of the residential real property for which an
exemption is claimed, the names of the maker of the trust, the trustee, and the beneficiaries of
the trust;
(V) If a corporate partnership or other legal entity is the owner of record of the
residential real property for which an exemption is claimed, the names of the principals of the
corporate partnership or other legal entity;
(VI) An affirmation, in a form prescribed by the administrator, that the applicant
believes, under penalty of perjury in the second degree, as defined in section 18-8-503, C.R.S.,
that all information provided by the applicant is correct; and
(VII) Any other information that the administrator may reasonably require as necessary
for the proper and efficient administration of the exemption.
(b) The exemption application shall also contain a statement that an applicant, or in the
case of residential real property for which the owner of record is a trust, the trustee, has a legal
obligation to inform the assessor within sixty days of any change in the ownership or occupancy
of residential real property for which an exemption has been applied for or allowed that would
prevent an exemption from being allowed for the property.
(c) For the exemption allowed by section 39-3-203 (1.5), the exemption application must
include proof of qualifying veteran with a disability status.
(2.5) Repealed.
(3) (a) In addition to any penalties prescribed by law for perjury in the second degree, an
applicant who knowingly provides false information on an exemption application or files more
than one exemption application in any property tax year:
(I) Shall not be entitled to an exemption;
(II) Shall be required to pay, to the treasurer of any county in which an exemption was
improperly allowed due to the provision by the applicant of false information or the filing by the
applicant of more than one exemption application, an amount equal to the amount of property
taxes not paid as a result of the exemption being improperly allowed; and
(III) Shall, upon conviction of perjury, be required to pay to the treasurer of any county
in which an invalid exemption application was filed an additional amount equal to twice the
amount of the property taxes that would not have had to be paid had the exemption application
been valid plus interest. Interest shall be calculated at the annual rate calculated pursuant to
section 39-21-110.5 (2) and (3) from the date the invalid exemption application was filed until
the date the applicant makes the payment required by this subparagraph (III).
(b) If an applicant or a trustee fails to inform the assessor within sixty days of any
change in the ownership or occupancy of residential real property for which an exemption has
been applied for or allowed that would prevent an exemption from being allowed for the
property as required by paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section:
(I) An exemption shall not be allowed with respect to the residential real property; and
(II) The applicant or trustee shall be required to pay, to the treasurer of any county in
which an exemption was improperly allowed due to the applicant's or trustee's failure to
immediately inform the assessor of any change in the ownership or occupancy of residential real
property, an amount equal to the amount of property taxes not paid as a result of the exemption
being improperly allowed plus interest. Interest shall be calculated at the annual rate calculated
pursuant to section 39-21-110.5 (2) and (3) from the date on which the change in the ownership
or occupancy occurred until the date the applicant makes the payment required by this
subparagraph (II).
(c) Any amount required to be paid to a treasurer pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this
subsection (3) shall be deemed part of the lien of general taxes imposed on the person required to
pay the amount and shall have the priority specified in section 39-1-107 (2).
(4) (a) Completed exemption applications shall be kept confidential; except that:
(I) (A) An assessor may release statistical compilations or informational summaries of
any information contained in exemption applications and shall provide a copy of an exemption
application to the applicant who returned the application, the treasurer of the same county as the
assessor, the administrator, the state treasurer, or the state auditor upon request or as otherwise
required by this part 2.
(B) An assessor may introduce a copy of an exemption application as evidence in any
administrative hearing or legal proceeding in which the accuracy or veracity of the exemption
application is at issue so long as neither the applicant's social security number nor any other
social security number set forth in the application are divulged.
(II) A treasurer, the administrator, the state treasurer, or the state auditor shall keep
confidential each individual exemption application that it may receive from an assessor but may
release statistical compilations or informational summaries of any information contained in
exemption applications and may introduce a copy of an exemption application as evidence in
any administrative hearing or legal proceeding in which the accuracy or veracity of the
exemption application is at issue so long as neither the applicant's social security number nor any
other social security number set forth in the application are divulged.
(III) The administrator may share information contained in an exemption application,
including any social security number set forth in the application, with the department of revenue
to the extent necessary to enable the administrator to verify that the applicant satisfies legal
requirements for claiming the exemption.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), an assessor,
the division, a treasurer, the administrator, the state treasurer, or the state auditor shall not give
any other person any listing of individuals who have applied for an exemption or any other
information that would enable a person to easily assemble a mailing list of individuals who have
applied for an exemption.

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