Taxes in Lakewood
Colorado's flat 4.4% state income tax (2026) applies to Lakewood residents same as anywhere else in the state, layered with a combined sales tax (7.5%-7.93% depending on address) that runs notably lower than the rates cited for Aurora or Thornton in this same build wave.
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Learn moreColorado's flat 4.4% income tax -- restated as place-level context
Colorado applies a flat 4.4% state income tax rate for 2026 to all taxable income regardless of filing status, per the Tax Foundation, AARP, and NerdWallet, independently verified this session. See colorado-tier-a-1.js for the full statewide record.
Lakewood's own municipal sales tax, and a notably lower combined rate than Aurora or Thornton
Lakewood's own municipal sales tax rate is 3.0%, on top of Colorado's 2.9% state rate plus RTD/SCFD/county add-ons. The minimum combined 2026 rate is cited at 7.5%, with Lakewood carrying 2 distinct tax jurisdictions running up to 7.93% depending on the specific address -- notably lower than the roughly 8%-8.9% combined rates cited for Aurora or Thornton elsewhere in this build wave.
Property tax: a real, unreconciled effective-rate disagreement
Lakewood's effective property tax rate is cited at a median of 0.54% (varying by zip -- roughly 0.56% in 80235 versus 0.54% in 80214), while a separately cited specific example ($2,586/year on a $548,200 home) implies a lower 0.47% effective rate, described in that source as running about 2% below the Jefferson County average of 0.48%. These two figures don't fully reconcile -- both are disclosed here rather than picking one; confirm an actual bill directly with the Jefferson County Assessor for a specific property. Rates by specific zip ranged from $2,731/year (80232) up to $4,519/year (80235).
No state estate or inheritance tax
Colorado does not levy a state estate tax or inheritance tax, consistent with the statewide record -- though Colorado residents with sufficiently large estates may still owe the federal estate tax. Confirm current guidance for any actual estate-planning decision.
Key takeaways
- Colorado's flat 4.4% state income tax (2026) applies to all Lakewood residents regardless of filing status.
- Lakewood's combined sales tax (7.5%-7.93% depending on address) runs notably lower than the roughly 8%-8.9% rates cited for Aurora or Thornton in this same build wave.
- Effective property tax rate citations didn't fully reconcile (0.54% median vs. 0.47% for a specific cited example) -- confirm an actual bill directly with the Jefferson County Assessor; rates by zip ranged $2,731-$4,519/year.
- Colorado levies no state estate or inheritance tax, though the federal estate tax can still apply to sufficiently large estates.
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