Colorado Personal Tax Extension Guide

Form DR 0158-I  ·  Individual Income Tax  ·  Personal Filing Guide

Colorado provides an automatic six-month extension to file your personal income tax return—no federal extension or separate state application required. If you cannot file your Colorado return by the original due date of April 15, 2026, you are automatically granted until October 15, 2026, to file. Simply make sure you meet the payment requirements by April 15 to avoid penalties.

Colorado’s automatic extension applies to filing, not payment. To avoid a late payment penalty, taxpayers must pay at least 90% of their net tax liability by April 15, 2026. If you expect to owe Colorado income tax, estimate your liability and submit at least 90% by the original deadline. The remaining balance can be paid when you file your return by October 15.

Colorado offers convenient online payment options through www.colorado.gov/revenueonline:

• Credit Card or E-Check: Pay online with a nominal processing fee. No prior registration required.
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT): EFT registration is required prior to making a payment. No fee once registered.

If you prefer to pay by mail, use Form DR 0158-I (Extension Payment for Colorado Individual Income Tax). This form ensures your payment is properly applied to your account. Mail the form with your payment to:
Colorado Department of Revenue
Denver, CO 80261-0008

Colorado’s failure-to-file penalty is the greater of $5 or 5% of unpaid tax, plus 0.5% per month if the return is more than one month late, up to a maximum of 12%. The failure-to-pay penalty follows the same structure. Both penalties are avoidable by filing on time and paying at least 90% of your liability by April 15.

• No federal extension is needed—Colorado’s extension is entirely automatic.
• Pay at least 90% of your net tax liability by April 15, 2026, to avoid the late payment penalty.
• Use Revenue Online (colorado.gov/revenueonline) for the fastest, most secure payment method.
• Register for EFT in advance if you prefer to pay by electronic funds transfer.
• File your completed return by October 15, 2026, to avoid the failure-to-file penalty.

Colorado’s automatic extension is one of the most taxpayer-friendly in the country—no federal extension or paperwork required. Just ensure you pay 90% of what you owe by April 15 and file your return by October 15, 2026. Use Colorado’s Revenue Online portal for efficient, confirmed payments.

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