Denver is quietly retiring the thick property-tax envelopes that used to land in mailboxes every year and is steering homeowners to an online-first system instead. In their place, residents are now getting slim postcards telling them to hop online and check their statements. City officials say the change is meant to cut paper, save money, and nudge residents toward more modern tools, while still keeping old-school payment options on the table.
According to The Denver Post, Denver’s Department of Finance began phasing in the online statement system last year, and this month started mailing postcards that direct property owners to view their bills on the web. A department spokesperson told the paper the move is expected to eliminate nearly 500,000 pieces of paper and save roughly $100,000 a year. The Post also noted that many homeowners with mortgages already have their property taxes paid through escrow, so the practical impact of the change will look a little different from household to household.
How to view and pay your bill
Property owners can still pay by mail, online, or in person at the taxpayer services center, according to the City and County of Denver. Through the city’s payment portal, users can pull up multiple years of tax statements, download a PDF for their records, and submit electronic payments. If you have trouble tracking down a statement, the Treasury Division’s Taxpayer Services team can walk you through it by phone or in person.
Help for people without reliable internet
The city and local coverage say residents without internet access can request a mailed copy of their statement by calling 720-913-9300 or dialing 311, per The Denver Post. Denver Public Library branches also provide free public computers and printing that residents can use to view and print tax statements, as outlined on the library’s resource page. Community groups and the city’s Taxpayer Services office are available to help anyone who needs extra support navigating the new system.
Why the change now
City officials are framing the shift as part of a broader effort to modernize how people look up property information, pointing back to last year’s overhaul of the city’s property research platform. As outlined by the City and County of Denver, the upgraded portal was built to make property data easier to search, filter, and download. Officials say the online-first tax statement system is a logical next step that cuts waste while still preserving multiple payment channels for residents who want or need paper statements.
