Interest Rates set by the Bank Commissioner

The State Bank Commissioner is responsible for yearly setting certain interest rates that may affect Colorado residents. The rates are established by adding a set number of percentage points to the federal discount rate and rounding to the nearest full percentage point. Please contact us if you would like more information or have any questions.

39-12-103 C.R.S., Redemption made - Interest

This rate is established every year on September 1, or the following business day, and becomes effective October 1 of the same year.

The current rate, effective October 1, 2023, is 15 percent. (2023)

39-12-111 C.R.S., Land Wrongfully Sold - Repayment

This rate is established every year on September 1, or the following business day, and becomes effective October 1 of the same year. By law, the rate cannot be set lower than 8 percent.

The current rate, effective October 1, 2023, is 8 percent. (2023)

39-21-110.5 C.R.S., Rate of Interest to be Fixed

This rate is established every year on July 1, or the following business day, and becomes effective on January 1 of the following year.

• Rate effective January 1, 2024, is 11 percent. (2023)
• Rate effective January 1, 2023, is 8 percent. (2022)
• Rate effective January 1, 2022, is 6 percent. (2021)
• Rate effective January 1, 2021, is 6 percent. (2020)
• Rate effective January 1, 2020, is 9 percent. (2019)
• Rate effective January 1, 2019, is 8 percent. (2018)
• Rate effective January 1, 2018, is 7 percent. (2017)

Section 39-12-103, Colorado Revised Statutes

39-12-103. Redemption made - interest (1) Real property for which a tax lien was sold under the provisions of article 11 of this title as a result of delinquent taxes may be redeemed by the owner thereof or his agent, assignee, or attorney, or by any person having a legal or equitable claim therein, or by a holder of a tax sale certificate; except that such holder may redeem such real property from any sale of a tax lien thereof made subsequent to the time of the issuance of the tax sale certificate upon which he is relying, and the amount paid for the redemption of the subsequent certificate of purchase shall be endorsed as subsequent taxes paid on the certificate upon which he is relying.

(2) An undivided interest may be redeemed upon payment of a ratable share of the sum required to redeem the whole even though a tax lien for the whole has been sold. In case a tax lien on any tract of land sold for delinquent taxes under the provisions of article 11 of this title belongs to two or more separate and distinct parties in severalty, the treasurer, when satisfied of the fact and upon application of any one of the parties or his agent, assignee, or attorney and upon payment of the proper proportional amount, shall issue a certificate of redemption for such party's interest in said land.

(3) The redemption may be made at any time before the execution of a treasurer's deed to the purchaser or his heirs or assigns upon payment to the treasurer, to be held by him subject to the order of the purchaser, of the amount of taxes, delinquent interest, and costs for which the tax lien on the property was sold, with redemption interest thereon from the date of sale at the rate which is determined as provided in this subsection (3), together with the amount of all taxes accruing on such real property after the sale, paid by the purchaser and endorsed on his certificate of purchase, with redemption interest at the rate which is determined as provided in this subsection (3) on such taxes so endorsed on the certificate of purchase. Any payment under this section shall be deemed received by the treasurer on the date that it is actually received in the treasurer's office. The annual rate of redemption interest shall be nine percentage points above the discount rate, which discount rate shall be the rate of interest a commercial bank pays to the federal reserve bank of Kansas City using a government bond or other eligible paper as security, and shall be rounded to the nearest full percent. The commissioner of banking shall establish the annual rate of redemption interest based upon the computation specified immediately above. Such annual rate of redemption interest shall be so established as of September 1, 1981, to become effective October 1, 1981. Thereafter, on September 1 of each year, the annual rate of redemption interest shall be established in the same manner, to become effective on October 1 of the same year.

(4) If subsequent taxes are paid before the time when they would become delinquent, interest shall be computed only from the time of their delinquency. Such taxes shall bear interest at the annual rate set forth in subsection (3) of this section, and no more, from the time when the purchaser becomes entitled to a deed up to the time of issuance of such deed.

(5) All statutory fees paid by the purchaser in connection with such certificate shall bear the same rate of interest as the original amount for which the tax lien on the property was sold, the same to be prorated among the several tracts described in said certificates.

(6) In computing the amount of interest due, portions of months shall be counted as whole months.

Section 39-12-111, Colorado Revised Statutes

39-12-111. Land wrongfully sold - repayment (1) When, by mistake or error of the treasurer, county clerk and recorder, or assessor or from double assessment, a tax lien has been sold on land upon which no tax was due at the time, the county shall reimburse the purchaser in the amount paid by him in connection with the purchase of the tax lien on such land, together with interest from the date of purchase at the rate which is determined as provided in this section. Reimbursement shall be made from the various funds to which the tax was originally distributed; except that interest shall be paid from the county general fund. The treasurer, county clerk and recorder, or assessor, as the case may be, and his sureties on his official bond shall be liable to the county for such amounts reimbursed as a result of sales made only through willful misconduct.

(2) (a) The annual rate of interest shall be two percentage points above the discount rate, which discount rate shall be the rate of interest a commercial bank pays to the federal reserve bank of Kansas City using a government bond or other eligible paper as security, and shall be rounded to the nearest full percent. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection (2), the rate of interest shall be no lower than eight percent per annum compounded annually.

(3) The commissioner of banking shall establish the annual rate of interest based upon the computation specified in subsection (2) of this section. Such annual rate of interest shall be so established as of September 1, 1981, to become effective October 1, 1981. Thereafter, on September 1 of each year, the annual rate of interest shall be established in the same manner, to become effective on October 1 of the same year.

Section 39-21-110.5, Colorado Revised Statutes

39-21-110.5. Rate of interest to be fixed (1) When interest is required or permitted to be charged under any provision of articles 20 to 29 of this title in connection with interest on underpayment, nonpayment, extension of time for payment, or overpayment, or when interest is required to be paid pursuant to section 8-20.5-104, C.R.S., in connection with an application for reimbursement from the petroleum storage tank fund, such interest shall be computed at the annual rate which has been established pursuant to this section.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, the annual rate of interest shall be the prime rate, as reported by the "Wall Street Journal", plus three points, rounded to the nearest full percent. In the event that more than one rate is so reported, the highest rate shall be utilized.

(3) The commissioner of banking shall establish an adjusted annual rate of interest based upon the computation specified in subsections (2) and (4) of this section and rounded to the nearest full percent. The adjusted annual rate of interest shall be so established by the commissioner of banking as of July 2, 1990, to become effective January 1, 1991. Thereafter, on July 1, or the next succeeding business day, of each year, the adjusted annual rate of interest shall be established in the same manner, to become effective on January 1 of the next succeeding year.

(4) For refunds issued on or after January 1, 2004, the annual rate of interest applicable to sections 39-21-110 and 39-22-622 shall be as follows:

(a) If the amount of the refund is less than five thousand dollars or if the amount of the refund is equal to or greater than five thousand dollars but less than ten percent of the taxpayer's net tax liability for the period for which the tax is paid, the annual rate of interest shall be the prime rate, as reported by the "Wall Street Journal", plus three points, rounded to the nearest full percent. In the event that more than one rate is so reported, the highest rate shall be utilized.

(b) (I) If the amount of the refund is equal to or greater than five thousand dollars and the amount of the refund is equal to or greater than ten percent of the taxpayer's net tax liability for the period for which the tax is paid, the annual rate of interest shall be the prime rate, as reported by the "Wall Street Journal", rounded to the nearest full percent, except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b). In the event that more than one rate is reported, the highest rate shall be utilized.

(II) For any refund subject to the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b), if the taxpayer demonstrates that the overpayment of tax necessitating such refund was due to good cause as determined by the executive director, the annual rate of interest shall be the prime rate, as reported by the "Wall Street Journal", plus three points, rounded to the nearest full percent. In the event that more than one rate is so reported, the highest rate shall be utilized.