Use Tax Information
If you need to submit Use Tax for a project that Regional Building Department does not require a permit for, click here for the required form. If your portion of the project does not require a permit, but it is part of a larger project that does, obtain a copy of the permit from the general contactor and submit use tax along with the Consumer Use Tax Remittance. If the general contractor paid Use Tax when the permit was issued and the permit contains an exempt certificate, materials may be purchased using this permit exempt from El Paso County’s 1.23% Sales Tax and no additional remittance of Use Tax would be required. If you have questions about this process send an email to usetax@elpasoco.com or call 719-520-6475.
Definition – The term “construction and building materials” means any tangible personal property which is stored, used or consumed in the County, and which is intended to become part of, attached to, or a component of any building, structure, road or appurtenance in the County.
Construction and Building Materials Use Tax Collection. The collection of the use tax for construction and building materials will be administered at the direction of the Board of County Commissioners. The Use Tax may be paid by estimate through the payment of the tax at the time permits are issued for building and construction. As an alternative to the estimate procedure provided above, payment of this use tax may be made by the filing by any applicant for a building permit of an affidavit stating that the applicant intends to purchase all building and construction materials necessary for the project described in the building permit application from a licensed retailer licensed within the County. Every building permit applicant who utilizes the alternative procedure provided above shall maintain and preserve detailed purchase and receipt records which shall be subject to inspection and audit by employees of the Board of County Commissioners, and any unpaid taxes due shall be subject to collection. The collection and administration of the use tax imposed by this Resolution shall be performed at the direction of the Board of County Commissioners in substantially the same manner as the collection, administration and enforcement of the Sales and Use Tax of the State of Colorado.
Collection Prior to April 1st, 2009. When the voters of El Paso County first approved the 1% Sales and Use Tax the Board of County Commissioners enter into an Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) with the City of Colorado Springs to administer and Collect Use Tax on the behalf of El Paso County. The City of Colorado Springs will continue to collect use tax on all permits issued before April 1st 2009.
Collection On or After April 1st, 2009. On November 20th, 2008 the Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 08-481 which changes the point of use tax collection from the City of Colorado Springs to the Pikes Peak Regional Building Commission (PPRBC) via an Intergovernmental Agreement. The new collection procedures will take affect on April 1, 2009
The following written information is a general overview of the Use Tax collection system. To view the Resolution in its entirety please follow the links below:
IGA for Resolution 08-481.pdf
Resolution 08-481
Intergovernmental Agreement
When the permit applicant believes a project is exempt from Sales and Use Tax, the applicant must submit a Colorado Certificate of Exemption and a completed Use Tax Exemption Request Form to El Paso County for approval prior to issuance of the building permit.
200 S. Cascade Ave. Suite 150
80903-2208
Phone: 719-520-6475
Fax: 719-520-6486
Email: RayBaca@elpasoco.com
*Response is quicker via email
The Use Tax Collection System
Whenever a building permit is issued for construction related work within the jurisdiction of the Regional Building Department, the permit applicant shall choose either, “Job Material Valuation Method 100%” or “Affidavit Method” to ensure the payment of the El Paso County Use Tax. The two methods are as follows:
Job Material Valuation Method 100%
1.) A permit applicant who selects to pay Use Tax by the job material valuation method can choose to submit 100% of the estimated Use Tax with the Regional Building Department when the permit is issued. 40% of the total construction cost is the estimated value of materials used in determining Use Tax owed. The permit receipt shall serve as the Exemption Certificate for use when purchasing building and construction materials.
Note: The permit owner is responsible for insuring subcontractors receive a copy of the permit receipt for use when purchasing building and construction materials.
EXAMPLE:
Total building valuation $180,000.00
40% of $180,000 = $72,000.00 (estimated material cost)
$72,000 at 1.23% = $885.60 amount added to permit fee
When the permit owner believes the material cost for the project is less than the 40% estimated cost using the job material valuation method, the permit owner may submit a Reconciliation Report containing a list of all receipts and contract amounts associated with the project. The Reconciliation Report must be submitted within (180) calendar days of Certificate of Occupancy or final inspection which ever occurs later. El Paso County will provide a written decision within (30) calendar days whether a refund will or will not be issued. During this (30) day period the County may request from the permit owner or subcontractors some or all of the receipts listed on the Reconciliation Report.
Affidavit Method
2.) The permit applicant who selects the affidavit method shall sign the affidavit stating that regardless from where construction and building materials are purchased, it is agreed and understood that all applicable County Sales and Use Taxes will be paid by the permit applicant; the applicant shall maintain records demonstrating payment of the applicable Sales and Use Taxes; any construction and building purchased in which El Paso County Sales Tax was not paid is subject to Use Tax which shall be submitted using a separate Consumer Use Tax Remittance form for each permit; and they further agree and understand that they may be subject to an audit of these records.
PLEASE NOTE: BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2011, THE ACTUAL COST METHOD (AUDIT METHOD) WILL NO LONGER BE OFFERED BY EL PASO COUNTY. ALL PERMIT HOLDERS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THIS METHOD PRIOR TO 1/1/2011 ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENTS AS EXPLAINED BELOW.
Program Administration Fee
An administrative fee will be assessed on each permit issued for all construction related work in El Paso County to recover the administrative costs of collection. The following table is a condensed list of the administrative fee schedule used by the Regional Building Department.
Codes Surcharge
101/102-New Residential $10.00
112/1121-Mobile Homes $4.00
100-300-New Commercial $50.00
New Commercial MEP $5.00
3292-New Signs $4.00
434/436-Residential Remodel $4.00
437-Commercial Alterations $20.00
437-MEP $5.00
Complete surcharge schedule document here.
All projects are subject to Audit
All related construction records are subject to audit by the County following project completion. Such audit is designed to determine the actual taxable cost of the project and may be conducted any time within 18 months after the Certificate of Occupancy or final inspection, whichever occurs later. The audit will reconcile the Use Tax deposit paid against the actual tax due on the materials. It is important that you keep complete and accurate records of each project. A copy of the contract including change orders, all invoices, receipts and cost reports pertaining to the construction project shall be kept for at least (3) years after the certificate of occupancy or final inspection, whichever occurs later.
If a formal audit by the County reveals an underpayment of the Use Tax, the remainder of the unpaid Use Tax, along with any interest and penalties will be assessed to the permit applicant.
A complete audit is performed by the County on all refund requests initiated by the contractor.
Penalty Interest For Underpayment of Use Tax
The interest and penalty interest rate for underpayment of the due and owing Use Tax (“Underpayment”) regardless of the method of payment chosen by the customer will pay to the County the amount of the underpayment shall be the same as allowed under Section 39-26-207, C.R.S., 2008, as amended. The amount of interest shall accrue from the date due, which is the date Certificate of Occupancy is issued or final inspection, whichever occurs later, and shall continue to accrue until paid. Upon written notification by the County of the amount of the underpayment, the customer may immediately pay the amount of the underpayment to stop interest from accruing while an appeal is undertaken.
If you wish to review the Agreement in its entirety, please follow the link below.
Intergovernmental Agreement.
