Colorado voters will decide in 2022 whether to decrease the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.40%
The initiative would decrease the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.40% for tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2022. The measure would also reduce the tax rate for domestic and foreign C corporations operating in Colorado from 4.55% of Colorado net income to 4.40%.
Proponents submitted 215,365 signatures on October 29, 2021. On November 18, 2021, the Colorado Secretary of State found through a random-sample method that 148,189 signatures were projected to be valid. To qualify for the 2022 ballot, 124,632 needed to be valid.
Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute and Republican State Senator Jerry Sonnenberg filed the initiative. The Independence Institute describes itself as a free-market think tank with a mission to “empower individuals and to educate citizens, legislators and opinion makers about public policies that enhance personal and economic freedom.” Colorado Character registered as an issue committee to support the initiative. According to campaign finance reports covering information through Oct. 27, 2021, the committee raised $500,000 ($250,000 each from Colorado Rising Action and Defend Colorado). The committee reported expenditures totaling $444,558, of which $444,515.95 was paid to Blitz Canvassing for signature collection.
In 2020, Colorado voters approved Proposition 116, also filed by Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute and State Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg (R). The initiative decreased the state income tax rate for individuals, estates, and trusts from 4.63% of federal taxable income to 4.55% for tax years commencing on and after Jan. 1, 2020. The measure also reduced the tax rate for domestic and foreign C corporations operating in Colorado from 4.63% of Colorado net income to 4.55%. It was approved by a vote of 57.86% to 42.14%. Two committees led the campaign in support of Proposition 116 in 2020: Energize our Economy (306 Real Fair Tax) and Americans for Prosperity Colorado Issue Committee. Together, the committees reported $1.55 million in contributions. The top three donors (which gave 99.64% of the total contributions) were Unite for Colorado, Independence Institute, and Colorado Rising State Action. Protect Colorado’s Recovery and Fair Tax Colorado registered to oppose the measure. The committees reported $3.19 million in contributions. The top donor was the North Fund, which provided $750,000.
Prior to 1987, the individual income tax rates in Colorado were graduated, meaning those with higher incomes paid higher tax rates and those with lower incomes paid lower rates. The Colorado individual income tax rate has been a flat tax rate since 1987. The flat tax was 5% from 1987 to 1998. It was lowered to 4.75% in 1999. The rate has been 4.63% since 2000. According to the Colorado Legislative Council Staff, the rates were lowered to “reduce the TABOR surplus.”
From 2000 through 2018, an average of about nine measures appeared on the statewide ballot in Colorado during even-numbered years. The approval rate for measures on the ballot in even-numbered years was about 41%. In 2020, a total of $7,351,906.29 was spent on signature collection for the eight initiatives that appeared on the ballot.
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