Colorado vs Texas Taxes (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of income tax, property tax, sales tax, capital gains, and retirement treatment between Colorado and Texas for tax year 2026. Use the calculator below to estimate how much you would save (or pay) after relocating.

TaxColoradoTexas
State income tax (effective)4.40%None
Long-term capital gains4.40%None (federal only)
Property tax (effective)0.55%1.80%
Combined sales tax7.80%8.25%
Retirement incomepartial-exemptno-tax
Income systemflatnone

Tax savings calculator

$
$
$

Estimated 2026 burden

Colorado total tax

$19,722

Texas total tax

$15,370

Colorado state tax

$4,352

Texas state tax

$0

Difference

−$4,352

Texas saves you money

As % of income

3.63%

Federal tax is identical in both columns and excluded from the difference. Numbers use 2026 IRS brackets, state effective rates, and the 3.8% NIIT where applicable.

Relocation analysis

Moving from Colorado to Texas could save about $4,352 per year on this profile — roughly 3.63% of gross income.

  • Property tax difference on a $400k home: $5,000/yr.
  • Sales tax difference on $50k of taxable spending: $225/yr.
  • Capital gains difference per $10k gain: $440.

Key differences

  • Colorado: Flat 4.4% corporate and individual tax; TABOR caps revenue growth.
  • Texas: No personal income tax; franchise (margin) tax 0.375–0.75% over $1.23M revenue.
  • Income system: Colorado is flat, Texas is none.
  • Retirement: Coloradopartial exempt; Texasno tax.

Recommended Tax Filing Software

Once you know what you owe, file with software built for your situation. We compare the top U.S. options below.

Editor's pick

TurboTax

Best overall guided experience

4.7·$0 – $129 federal
  • Step-by-step interview
  • Live expert add-on
  • W-2 + 1099 auto-import
  • Pricier than competitors
File with TurboTax

H&R Block

Best for in-person backup

4.5·$0 – $115 federal
  • Free in-person review
  • Strong refund accuracy guarantee
  • Easy import from prior software
  • State filing adds up
File with H&R Block

TaxAct

Best value for self-employed

4.3·$0 – $99 federal
  • Cheaper than TurboTax/H&R
  • Strong Schedule C tools
  • Price-lock guarantee
  • Fewer guidance tooltips
File with TaxAct

FreeTaxUSA

Best truly-free federal e-file

4.6·$0 federal / $14.99 state
  • Free federal filing for all forms
  • Cheap state filing
  • Supports complex situations
  • Plainer interface
File with FreeTaxUSA

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Comparison FAQs

It depends on income mix. Texas has an effective income rate of 0% vs Colorado's 4.40%. Property tax (0.55% vs 1.80%) and sales tax can swing the answer.

Related resources

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