Denver sales tax rate: 2026 components and examples
As checked October 26, 2026, Denver publishes a 9.15% combined general sales/use rate. It includes the city and county, Colorado and two district components. Special categories and the actual location can change the calculation.
Sources checked . General information maintained by Denver Tax with AI assistance. We are an independent directory, not a government agency or tax adviser. Verify the instructions for your tax year and circumstances.
What is the general Denver sales-tax rate in 2026?
Denver’s current official rate table, checked October 26, 2026, lists a combined general sales/use rate of 9.15%. The components are:
| Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|
| City and County of Denver | 5.15% |
| State of Colorado | 2.90% |
| Regional Transportation District (RTD) | 1.00% |
| Cultural facilities special district | 0.10% |
| Combined general rate | 9.15% |
Denver is a combined city and county. The 5.15% line above is the City and County of Denver component; do not add another Denver county percentage to this table. The state and district portions are separate from that city/county amount.
The city’s linked rate sheet is labeled effective January 1, 2025, and its current web table independently shows the same general rate. This is a 2026 reference checked on the date above, not a claim that Denver introduced a new rate in 2026 or that the rate is established for 2027.
Does every Denver purchase use 9.15%?
No. Denver’s table separates general sales from prepared food and drink, short-term car rentals, lodging and other categories. For example, it lists an 8.00% combined prepared-food-and-drink rate. Classification and exemptions still need checking; this does not mean every grocery or food purchase is taxed at 8%.
A car purchase also involves a different sales/use and registration workflow from ordinary shopping. Use the related vehicle guide for purchase, delivery and registration distinctions. A general retail-rate table is not a quote for all vehicle charges.
Check Denver’s rate and taxability FAQs for the transaction involved. Different tax bases or exemptions can matter even where the address stays the same.
How do you calculate Denver sales tax?
For an amount subject to one verified rate: tax = taxable price × rate ÷ 100. Add that tax to the pre-tax price to find the total. An amount already including tax uses a different calculation: divide the tax-inclusive total by 1 plus the decimal rate to recover the pre-tax amount.
| Example | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| $100 before tax at 9.15% | $100 × 0.0915 | $9.15 tax; $109.15 total |
| $100 before tax at the listed 8.00% prepared-food rate | $100 × 0.08 | $8.00 tax; $108.00 total |
| $109.15 already including 9.15% tax | $109.15 ÷ 1.0915 | $100.00 before tax; $9.15 tax |
These examples explain the arithmetic. They do not classify a mixed basket, apply an exemption, determine delivery sourcing or replace a business’s invoicing and return-rounding instructions. This page does not provide an address-aware calculator.
Check the exact address and transaction date
A Denver mailing address or ZIP code does not establish the taxing jurisdiction. The metropolitan area includes other cities and counties. Use Colorado’s official address/rate lookup instructions for the full address, then check the applicable item or activity with the responsible jurisdiction.
The state lookup identifies state, local and district components. Denver’s own rules remain relevant because it is a self-collected home-rule city. Do not assume a neighboring city’s taxability rules match Denver’s or that the current rate applies to an earlier transaction.
If you collect tax for a business
The combined shopping rate and the amount remitted to each authority are different questions. Use the business filing guide below for Denver eBiz, Colorado SUTS and the separate city/state tasks. Keep the rate, transaction classification, tax collected and payment records together.
Ask a professional about your situation
Use the official city and state resources for a rate or taxability question. For business records or return preparation, ask a practice which jurisdictions and filing periods its quote covers. These listings do not verify sales-tax expertise.
Compare professional qualifications and questions to ask. Keep personal tax documents private; this directory does not receive returns, identity documents or portal credentials.
Related guides
Official sources and applicability
- Denver Treasury business taxes and current rate table — General and category-specific rates; city tax accounts, eBiz and SUTS limitations; city tax types and official contacts.
Current official guidance checked October 26, 2026; confirm the applicable period. Checked 2026-10-26. - Denver business-tax FAQs — Independent confirmation of the rate table; licensing, use-tax, event and filing questions. No personal eligibility determination.
Current official guidance checked October 26, 2026; confirm the applicable period. Checked 2026-10-26. - Colorado address and jurisdiction rate lookup instructions — Full-address GIS and Revenue Online routes; state, local and district components.
Current official guidance checked October 26, 2026; confirm the applicable period. Checked 2026-10-26. - Denver combined-rate sheet effective January 1, 2025 — Corroborates the four components and category differences; current city HTML independently checked.
Sheet effective January 1, 2025, linked from the current forms index; not a newly issued 2026 rate sheet. Checked 2026-10-26.
Next source review due 2026-11-25, and before promotion for a new tax year. To report an outdated resource, contact the directory without sending personal tax information.