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1. What is a Food Sales Tax Refund?

As an incentive to encourage voters to support a sales tax referendum, the City created Food Sales Tax Refunds. It was intended to partially reimburse voters for the approximate amount of sales tax that they would pay annually on grocery purchases due to the imposition of a 1% City sales tax. 

2. How much is the Food Sales Tax Refund?

The refund is $55 per person per year. If you are blind, you receive an additional $55. Additionally, if you are 65 or over as of December 31, 2022, you will receive an additional $55, plus an additional $55 senior citizen allowance. These amounts are cumulative, so if you are 65 or over as of December 31, 2022 and blind, you would receive $220 ($55 + $55 + $55 + $55).

3. Who qualifies for the Food Sales Tax Refund?

A qualified applicant is required to:

✓ Submit the Food Sales Tax Refund application by deadline of 5pm April 18, 2023

✓ Have resided within the Aspen city limits for the full 2022 year (1/1/22-12/31/22)

✓ Have been registered to vote in the City of Aspen the full 2022 year (1/1/22-12/31/22)

✓ Be able to prove residency within Aspen city limits for 2022 and if still living within the City, ensure your current address is the same as your registered voter address. 

For persons barred from registering to vote, i.e. have a felony conviction or are non-citizens, residency within the City of Aspen for the full 2022 year will need to be proved. Non-citizens must provide a copy of their US Permanent Residency Card (i.e. Green Card) or valid work visa.

4. What documentation do I need to provide to prove I qualify?

If you have lived in Aspen for the full year but moved residences within the City limits:

 Proof of all new physical addresses (we have your previous address on file)

 Proof of address on Dec-31-2022

 Proof of registered voter address update

If you are barred from registering to vote (due to non-citizenship or felony conviction):

 Proof of all physical addresses in 2022, including address on 1/1/2022 & 12/31/2022

 Copy of your US Permanent Residency ‘Green’ Card or valid work visa (if applicable)

If you successfully received a food sales tax refund in 2021 and have not moved:

 No further documentation is required

If you have not moved and your registered voter address did not change:

 No further documentation is required

Voter Registration List:

The City of Aspen will have a Voter Registration List for all eligible voters registered prior to January 1st of the previous year. The Voter Registration List will be used as evidence that they were a registered voter of the City of Aspen for the full calendar year for which the refund applies. If the applicant’s current address is different than the registered voter address, proof of update of registered voter address change is required (i.e. you will need to update your voter address before submitting your Food Sales Tax Refund request form)

5. What are acceptable proof of address documents? How do I demonstrate my address in January and/or December?

Note: Only physical addresses will be accepted. Documents detailing a PO Box address will be rejected.

Accepted proof of address documents to demonstrate you resided in Aspen during the year: 

• January and/or December utility bill

• Lease or rental contract

• Bank statement

6. How do I check and/or update my registered voter address and provide proof I have updated it?

To check or update your voter address, please visit the Colorado Secretary of State, voter registration website or click this link: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml

7. Which dependents qualify?

A qualified dependent eligible to be claimed on an applicant’s food tax refund must be claimed as a dependent for personal exemption on the applicant’s federal tax return.  A qualified dependent may be a child, college student or adult; however, the dependent must be able to be claimed on the federal tax return for the tax year of the refund.

Note:  No person who may be claimed as a personal exemption on another resident's application for refund shall be entitled to a food tax refund individually.  A food tax refund may not be claimed on more than one (1) application for the same person.

8. How do I file and when is the deadline?

All applications must be completed online by 5PM Wednesday April 18, 2023. There are absolutely no exceptions. A kiosk is available at City Hall if you need assistance with computer access.

ONLINE 

https://www.cityofaspen.com/382/Food-Sales-Tax-Refunds

KIOSK LOCATION

Finance Window

427 Rio Grande Pl
2nd Floor
Aspen, CO 81611

It is your responsibility to submit your application CORRECTLY AND ON TIME

9. How do I know if my application was successful? When will I receive my refund check?

Refund checks will be mailed to successful applications AFTER  the submission period closes on April 18th 2023. Checks will be mailed to your nominated mailing address.