Food tax refund deadline for Aspenites nears

Aspen residents have until Monday, April 15, to apply for the city’s annual $132 food sales tax refund. The program reimburses eligible voters for city sales taxes for groceries throughout the previous year.

To qualify, applicants must have lived within Aspen city limits for the entirety of 2024 and must have been registered to vote from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024. Proof of residency is required, and the applicant’s current address must match the address on their voter registration.

The city requires all applications to be submitted online to reduce paper use and streamline the process. Those needing assistance with the online application can visit the finance window at City Hall, located on the second floor at 427 Rio Grande Place.

Aspen’s food tax refund dates back to a 1970s-era sales tax referendum. The program was created to help offset the financial burden of the newly implemented city sales tax on groceries by refunding voters a portion of what they were expected to pay each year.

Applicants must complete and submit their applications online by the April 15 deadline. More information, including the application portal, is available at aspen.gov.