Colorado is rolling out a new tool that promises to turn tax season from a headache into a quick chore for some low-income residents, and potentially put much-needed cash back into their wallets.
On July 12, 2026, Gov. Jared Polis announced that the state is teaming up with civic-tech nonprofit Code for America to launch SimpleFile, a streamlined state tax filing system for eligible low-income Coloradans. The goal is straightforward: help people file a basic state return in about 15 minutes, without income documents, so they can claim the Colorado child tax credit, the Family Affordability Tax Credit, the earned income tax credit, and any TABOR refund they are owed.
Polis’s Announcement And The Partnership
In a post on the governor’s Facebook, Polis said the rollout is designed to “put more money back into people’s pockets,” adding that SimpleFile would be available in early July. According to Code for America, the free tool is part of the nonprofit’s broader effort to expand low-barrier tax filing services for residents who might otherwise miss out on key benefits.
Who Qualifies And What SimpleFile Does
SimpleFile is aimed at low-income Coloradans who did not file a federal or state return for tax year 2025 and who meet the income and family rules for state credits. As outlined by Get Ahead Colorado, eligibility guidelines include roughly $15,000 or less for single filers and $26,000 or less for joint filers, and the system supports claiming the state child tax credit and the Family Affordability Tax Credit.
Get Ahead Colorado also notes that SimpleFile is mobile-friendly and built to work without income documents. Many users are expected to complete a simplified state return in around 15 minutes, which is faster than the time it takes most people to find that one missing receipt in a desk drawer.
Why It Matters
State officials say a simpler filing process is critical because too many families leave refundable credits on the table. The Department of Revenue notes that Colorado has launched outreach campaigns and an online tax benefits hub to help residents figure out which credits they qualify for, and stresses that filing a Colorado return is required to claim them.
How To File
Eligible residents can start at the state’s Get Ahead Colorado hub or head directly to the SimpleFile portal. The Get Ahead Colorado site includes a “Get Started With SimpleFile” link along with information on other free filing options.
For taxpayers with earned income who need full federal and state returns rather than the simplified state-only filing, GetYourRefund and local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are still available as no-cost alternatives.
Security And Support
Code for America says its FileYourStateTaxes work is designed to help states offer easy-to-use filing tools while protecting taxpayer data, and the group has partnered with local organizations to operate the service in Colorado.
The Department of Revenue also keeps a directory of in-person community tax help sites across the state, including VITA locations and AARP Tax-Aide programs, for people who prefer to sit down with a human instead of a website.
Officials say SimpleFile is ultimately about making sure more Colorado families receive the refunds and credits they have already earned, without getting tangled in a complicated filing process. With the tool rolling out in early summer, the hope is that money will reach households faster, especially for residents who have historically been left out of refund programs.
