As a Home Rule City, Centennial administers and collects its own sales tax. The Centennial Municipal Code imposes a sales tax upon the purchase price paid for tangible personal property and certain taxable services purchased, sold, leased or rented in the City.
Retailers are responsible for collecting the City sales tax and remitting it directly to the City of Centennial on the City’s sales tax return. Even those retailers without a commercial establishment in Centennial may be engaged in business and responsible for the collection and payment of Centennial sales tax.
Combined Sales Tax Rate
The following is the breakdown of the combined sales tax rate for Centennial. The total rate is 6.75 percent which is comprised of the following:
City of Centennial |
2.5 % |
State of Colorado* |
2.9 % |
Regional Transportation District (RTD)* |
1.0 % |
Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (CD)* |
0.1 % |
Arapahoe County* |
0.25 % |
Total |
6.75% |
* This tax is collected and remitted to the Colorado Department of Revenue. Additional information may also be obtained on the Colorado Department of Revenue’s website.
Filing Returns
Every business required to collect sales tax must file a sales tax return monthly, quarterly or annually; depending on their average tax liability. Generally, sales tax returns are due on the 20th of the month following the end of the period unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday in which case the due date is the next business day. Please note that if a return is not received by the 20th, timely filing is only evidenced by a USPS Postmark. The City does not accept a meter mark as proof of timely filing. As the USPS does not usually postmark metered mail, the taxpayer who uses a private postage meter must ensure that the returns and payment are received on the due date by placing such privately metered mail in the USPS in sufficient time to assure timely delivery. Returns must be filed with the City even if the tax liability is zero. A minimum penalty of $15 is applied on all late returns, including zero returns filed late.
Sales tax represents approximately fifty three percent of the City’s total revenues.