Colorado taxes capital gains as ordinary income — up to 4.4% — stacked on top of federal tax, so selling appreciated real estate can cost roughly ~28.2% of the gain. A 1031 exchange into a Delaware Statutory Trust lets Colorado investors defer that combined bill and trade active landlording for passive institutional real estate.
~28.2%Est. combined tax if you sell
4.4%Top state rate on gains
5.0–7.0% (illustrative)Illustrative cap rates
How Colorado taxes a property sale
State treatment. Taxed as ordinary income — up to 4.4%.
Nonresident withholding. Colorado may require nonresident withholding at closing; a qualifying 1031 exchange generally defers it. Confirm specifics with your closing agent.
Does Colorado conform to Section 1031?
Yes — a qualifying exchange defers state tax alongside federal.
Colorado conforms to IRC §1031, so a qualifying exchange defers Colorado tax as well as federal tax.
Passive replacement property with a DST
Many Colorado owners use a Delaware Statutory Trust as replacement property — institutional real estate, professionally managed, that qualifies for 1031 treatment and can absorb both the equity and the debt from the sale.
Colorado taxes capital gains as ordinary income, up to 4.4%, with no separate long-term rate. Combined with the federal 20% rate and the 3.8% net investment income tax, a high-bracket Colorado seller can face roughly ~28.2% on a real estate gain.
Does Colorado recognize 1031 exchanges?
Yes. Colorado conforms to IRC §1031, so a properly structured exchange defers Colorado tax as well as federal tax.
Why use a 1031 exchange in Colorado?
To defer the tax on a large gain (up to about ~28.2% combined) and move from active landlording into passive, professionally managed real estate while keeping your full equity invested. These are Regulation D offerings for accredited investors.