Prepare and file your Federal and Colorado state income tax return online.
The Internal Revenue Service encourages everyone to file their 1040 tax return online. You can try our easy and fast Q&A tax prep system for free. Tax returns may be E-Filed (between January and October 15th) or they can be printed and mailed to the IRS. Our affordable prices include free E-Filing of your 1040 tax return - both with the IRS and your home state.
Who must file a return.
You must file a 2008 Colorado income tax return if during 2008 you were:
- A full-year resident of Colorado, or
- A part-year resident of Colorado with taxable income during that part of the year you were a resident, or
- A nonresident of Colorado with Colorado source income;
AND
- You are required to file a 2008 federal income tax return,
or
- You have a 2008 Colorado income tax liability.
Even if no tax is due, you may wish to file a return to get a refund of wage withholding.
Part-year residents and nonresidents.
Use Form 104PN if you and/or your spouse were a resident of another state for all or part of 2008. The form apportions your gross income so the Colorado tax computed from the tax table on your total 2008 income will be reduced to reflect only the tax on your Colorado income.
Active members of the armed forces.
If you were a Colorado resident when you joined the armed forces, you remain a Colorado resident unless you change it with
the military. This means that you must file as a Colorado resident even if you are stationed outside the state. If you were
stationed outside of the United States for at least 305 days during 2008 you may file as a nonresident if you wish.
If you are in Colorado on military orders but are not a Colorado resident, Colorado does not tax your military pay. However,
you must file a Colorado return for any other earned income from Colorado sources.
Filing on behalf of a deceased taxpayer.
If you are a surviving spouse or legal representative of someone who died during 2008, you may file a return on the deceased’s behalf. Write “deceased” in large letters across the top of the return, check the box after the deceased person’s name and write the date of death next to the deceased person’s name. Additionally, you must sign the return and write “filing as surviving spouse” or “filing as legal representative” by your signature. Any person other than the surviving spouse who files a return and requests a refund on behalf of a deceased person must file Form 102 and a copy of the death certificate with the return.
Filing status.
Your Colorado filing status will always be the same as your federal filing status. For example, if you file a joint federal return, you must file a joint Colorado return even if one spouse is not a Colorado resident.
When to file.
Your Colorado income tax filing and tax payment are due by April 15, 2009. You may file your return electronically anytime up to midnight April 15th. If you choose to complete a paper return, mail your return and, if applicable, your tax payment to:
- Colorado Department of Revenue
- Denver, CO 80261-0005
The envelope must be postmarked by April 15, 2009. If you cannot complete your return by the April 15 deadline, you may be able to file under extension.
