About Sales Tax
About Taxable Items
About Use Tax (and Examples)
About Lodging Tax
About Telephone Tax
About E-911 Surcharge

 Sales Tax

The City of Thornton levies a sales tax on tangible personal property or taxable services which are purchased, sold, leased or rented in the City. The term “in the City” includes any personal property or taxable service that is provided or delivered to the purchaser within City limits. Sales tax is a transaction tax that is collected and remitted by a retailer. Retailers collect a total of 8.5% for sales made in Thornton. The City portion (3.75%) must be remitted directly to Thornton. The remainder of the taxes (4.75%) are remitted directly to the State of Colorado. View a map of Thornton’s boundaries: Boundary Map

The City portion (3.75%) must be remitted directly to Thornton. The remainder of the taxes (4.75%) are remitted directly to the State of Colorado.

Taxable Items

Some examples of items subject to Thornton’s sales and use tax are as follows:

• Automobiles
• Computer software
• Cable television
• Linen services
• Maintenance contracts
• Restaurant food
• Tangible personal property
• Food for home consumption (groceries)
• Gas and electric service
• Telecommunication services
• Cover/door/admission charges
• Recreation services
• Automated or hand held car wash
• Construction equipment

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Use Tax

Use tax is a complement to sales tax. If City sales tax has not been charged on a taxable item or service, then use tax is due. The purchaser is responsible for reporting use tax. Use tax should be reported on line 10 of the City Sales and Use Tax Return. Download and print form: Tax Return

Sometimes another city’s tax is paid on items brought into Thornton. If that city’s tax is less than Thornton’s, then the difference between the two rates is due as use tax. Some examples of use taxable transactions follow.

Use Tax Examples

Example #1 - ABC Company purchases a computer from a store located outside of Thornton. The store charged 7.0% sales tax (4.0% State + RTD and 3.0% city tax). ABC Company brings the computer back to Thornton to use in the business.

The difference in the store’s city rate and Thornton’s is 0.75% (3.75% - 3.0%).  ABC Company owes use tax to the City of Thornton at a rate of 0.75%.

Example #2 - XYZ Manufacturing ordered a computer over the internet. XYZ received the computer and invoice; there was no sales tax on the invoice.

XYZ has not paid any city sales tax on this computer and owes use tax to Thornton at a rate of 3.75%.

Example #3 – ABC Company’s corporate headquarters are in Texas. ABC Company ordered a new computer. The Computer was delivered to corporate headquarters in Texas, and later shipped to their Thornton location. A review of the invoice shows Texas sales tax of 8.75% was charged.

Sales tax equal to or greater than Thornton’s rate has already been paid. No use tax is due on this transaction.

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Lodging Tax

The City of Thornton levies a lodging tax on the price paid or charged for the lease, rental or furnishing of rooms or other public accommodations. The lodging tax rate is 7.0% and is levied in lieu of sales tax. Customers who enter into a written agreement for occupancy of a room or public accommodation for a period of thirty or more consecutive days are exempt from this tax.

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Telephone Tax

The City of Thornton levies a telephone tax on any business providing local exchange telephone service to inhabitants of the City. The amount of the tax is $8.00 per local telephone account per year. The tax is due and payable in four quarterly installments. Each installment is due 30 days after each quarterly period.

Telephone Tax Return Form

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E-911 Surcharge

The City of Thornton E-911 Authority levies a $.70 surcharge per month on each telephone account. The surcharge is collected from Thornton residents and businesses on their monthly telecommunication bill. The surcharge is used to pay for a portion of equipment, personnel, technology maintenance, and other authorized costs pursuant to State statute for the City to provide emergency response service.

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