You can pay Colorado state taxes online through Revenue Online, the Colorado Department of Revenue’s official portal at tax.colorado.gov. The system accepts electronic checks, credit cards, and debit cards for individual income tax, business income tax, sales and use tax, withholding tax, and other state tax types. Here’s how to navigate the process and what it costs.
Pay Through Revenue Online
Revenue Online is the Department of Revenue’s self-service website where you can file returns, check refund status, and make tax payments. To pay, go to tax.colorado.gov and select the payment option for your specific tax type. You can pay as a guest for one-time payments, but creating a login gives you access to your full account history, payment confirmations, and the ability to set up payment plans.
The system accepts three electronic payment methods:
- E-check: You enter your bank routing number and account number, similar to paying a bill online. This is the cheapest option.
- Credit card: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted.
- Debit card: Processed through the same system as credit cards, with the same fee structure.
You can also pay by electronic funds transfer (EFT), which is common for businesses making recurring payments like sales tax or withholding tax. EFT payments are initiated through Revenue Online and pull funds directly from your bank account.
Processing Fees
The Department of Revenue passes processing fees on to the taxpayer. These fees are automatically added to your total when you check out:
- E-check: $1.00 flat fee, regardless of the payment amount
- Credit or debit card: 2.25% of the total, calculated as (amount due + $0.75) × 2.25%
On a $2,000 tax payment, an e-check costs you $2,001. That same payment by credit card runs about $2,045.02. If you owe a large balance, the e-check saves real money. A $10,000 payment by credit card adds roughly $225 in fees, while the e-check still costs just a dollar.
Deadlines That Matter
Colorado individual income tax returns and payments are due April 15. If that date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline shifts to the next business day.
You can request a filing extension to October 15, but an extension to file is not an extension to pay. If you owe Colorado income tax, you must pay at least 90% of your total liability by April 15 to avoid penalties. Any remaining balance after that date accrues interest but won’t trigger a separate penalty, as long as you hit that 90% threshold. Missing the 90% mark means you’ll owe both interest and a late-payment penalty on the shortfall.
When you submit a payment through Revenue Online, the system timestamps it. Payments made before midnight on the due date generally count as on time, but don’t cut it that close if you can avoid it. Processing delays or technical issues right at the deadline can cause problems, and the burden of proving timely payment falls on you.
Setting Up a Payment Plan
If you can’t pay your full balance, Colorado allows monthly payment plans through the Department of Revenue. The process depends on whether you’re an individual or a business, and whether you’ve already received a bill.
For individual income tax debt, you can request a payment plan directly through Revenue Online after you receive a bill from the state. Log in, navigate to your account, and follow the prompts to set up monthly installments. If you want to arrange a plan before receiving a bill (for current-year tax debt), you’ll need to wait until after April 15 and call the Collections Section at (303) 205-8291.
Business tax debt, including sales tax and wage withholding, requires a phone call. Payment plans for businesses can only be set up by speaking with a Compliance Agent at (303) 866-3711. Agents are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
If the standard payment terms create a financial hardship, you can request extended terms by completing and mailing a Statement of Economic Hardship form (DR 6596). Keep making your regular monthly payments while that application is under review, because the Department of Revenue won’t pause collections while it evaluates your request.
Estimated Tax Payments
If you’re self-employed, earn significant investment income, or have other income that isn’t subject to withholding, you likely need to make quarterly estimated tax payments. Colorado estimated payments follow the same schedule as federal estimates, with due dates in April, June, September, and January. You can make each quarterly payment through Revenue Online using the same e-check or card options, and the same processing fees apply.
When making estimated payments, select “Individual Income Tax” on the payment portal and choose the estimated payment option for the correct tax year and quarter. Keep your confirmation numbers for each payment. They serve as your receipt if there’s ever a discrepancy between what you paid and what the state has on record.
Keeping Records of Your Payment
After completing a payment through Revenue Online, you’ll receive a confirmation number on screen. Save it, screenshot it, or print the page. If you created a Revenue Online account, your payment history is stored there and you can pull up records later. For e-check payments, also verify that the funds cleared your bank account within a few business days. Credit and debit card payments typically show up on your statement within one to two business days.
If you’re paying a balance due with your annual return, the payment confirmation from Revenue Online paired with your filed return gives you a complete paper trail. For estimated payments or payment plan installments, keeping a running log of confirmation numbers and dates makes tax season much simpler when it’s time to reconcile everything on your return.