Coal Severance Tax

Colorado Severance Tax is a tax imposed upon nonrenewable natural resources that are removed from the earth. In addition to any other tax, there shall be levied, collected, and paid for each taxable year a tax upon the severance of all coal in this state and shall be levied against every person engaged in the severance of coal.

Every individual, corporation, business trust, partner in a partnership, association, estate, trust or any other legal entity liable for the payment of Colorado coal severance tax must file a Colorado Coal Severance Tax Return (DR 0020C). This return must be made for the same tax year used for federal income tax purposes and is due on or before the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of the taxable year. Coal severance tax is calculated by using the rates listed in the charts below.

Every corporation subject to Colorado severance tax must file a declaration of estimated tax (DR 0021PC) if its severance tax liability for the current tax year can reasonably be expected to exceed its Colorado severance tax credits by $5,000 or more.

Coal Severance Tax by Year

2026

PeriodPreliminary RateFinal Rate
January1.0551.058
February1.0581.066
March1.0801.087
April1.1021.109
May1.138 
June1.170 
July1.148 
August1.138 
September  
October  
November  
December  

2025

PeriodPreliminary RateFinal Rate
January1.0301.030
February1.0441.044
March1.0511.051
April1.0481.048
May1.0481.048
June1.0481.048
July1.0511.055
August1.0621.062
September1.0621.058
October1.0621.058
November1.0551.055
December1.0581.058

2024

PeriodPreliminary RateFinal Rate
January1.0151.015
February1.0191.022
March1.0371.033
April1.0331.033
May1.0441.040
June1.0331.037
July1.0371.037
August1.0441.044
September1.0371.037
October1.0261.026
November1.0301.026
December1.0301.030

2023

PeriodPreliminary RateFinal Rate
January 1.051 1.044
February 1.048 1.055
March 1.040 1.048
April 1.044 1.040
May 1.030 1.040
June 1.030 1.030
July 1.030 1.030
August 1.030 1.030
September 1.044 1.044
October 1.0511.048
November 1.0371.037
December 1.0301.026

2022

PeriodPreliminary RateFinal Rate
January 0.997 0.986
February 1.026 1.004
March 1.048 1.026
April 1.069 1.051
May 1.098 1.073
June 1.134 1.102
July 1.094 1.127
August 1.084 1.098
September 1.087 1.087
October 1.069 1.080
November 1.066 1.069
December 1.044 1.062

2021

PeriodPreliminary RateFinal Rate
January 0.853 0.839
February 0.868 0.853
March 0.896 0.875
April 0.900 0.889
May 0.925 0.900
June 0.940 0.925
July 0.950 0.940
August 0.954 0.950
September 0.965 0.958
October 0.983 0.965
November 0.994 0.983
December 0.983 0.994