HomeMy WebLinkAboutordinance.council.18-24SERIES OF 2024
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, AMENDING CHAPTER
239 OF THE CITY OF ASPEN MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROVIDE FOR THE
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO COLLECT CITY SALES TAX;
REMOVE VENDOR'S FEES; AND TO UPDATE THE MUNICIPAL CODE
CONCERNING TAXES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE COLLECTED,
ADMINISTERED, AND ENFORCED BY THE CITY.
WHEREAS, The City of Aspen, as a home rule municipality, collects its own sales and
use taxes pursuant to Chapter 23 of the City of Aspen Municipal Code, and in particular, Chapter
23.32 of the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, C.R.S. § 29-2-106(4)(a)(I) requires the Colorado Department of
Revenue to collect the sales tax of any home rule municipality upon request of the
governing body, pursuant to certain conditions, including that the City's tax or
conform to state requirements; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the above referenced statute, the City can provide that its
sales tax be collected by the Colorado Department of Revenue on standard forms at the same
time the Department of Revenue collects state sales tax on sales made in Aspens and
WHEREAS, Aspen may continue to decide its own tax base, provided it cannot
exempt from sales tax any items that the State of Colorado has not exempted, but may
exempt fewer items than the State of Colorado exempts, pursuant to C.R.S. §29-2-
106(4)(a)(1) and §29-2405(1)(d)(I)); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the above noted statutes, to enable state collection of City
of Aspen sales tax, the City must make certain changes to its Municipal Code to conform to
the requirements set out in C.R.S. §29-2-105, which changes are reflected in this ordinance;
and
WHEREAS, the dual system of separate collection of state and local sales taxes is
generally regarded by local and multi jurisdictional businesses as complex and burdensome,
and may be simplified by collection of both state and local sales taxes by the Colorado
Department of Revenue on one return; and
WHEREAS, the City otherwise desires to streamline the sales tax collection process
through unifying the City's sales tax return with the state sales tax return, thereby simplifying
the process for vendors and reducing collection costs for the City; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this ordinance will not create any new tax or tax policy
change directly causing a net tax revenue gain to the City, and therefore no election is
required pursuant to Art. X, Sec. 20 (4)(a) of the Colorado Constitution, see TABOR
Foundation v. Regional T�^ansportation District, 416 P.3d 101 (Colo. 2018); and
WHEREAS, the City also desires to update Chapter 23 of the Municipal Code to
reflect local cigarette tax collection and add Chapter 23.56 in accordance with previous
voter approval obtained through the November 2017 ballot issue 2B and by approval of
Resolution No. 122, Series of 2017,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN, COLORADO, that:
Section 1: Chapter 23.32 —Sales Tax of the Municipal Code is hereby repealed and
replaced, to read in its entirety as set forth on the attached Exhibit A, which is incorporated
by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Section 2: Chapter 23.56 —Tobacco and Nicotine Product Tax of the Municipal Code is
hereby added to the Municipal Code to read in its entirety as set forth on the attached
Exhibit B, which is incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Section 3: Chapter 23.58 — Food Tax Refunds of the Municipal Code is hereby added
to the Municipal Code to read in its entirety as set forth on the attached Exhibit C, which
is incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Section 4: Section 23.04.010 —General Provisions, Words and Phrases Defined of the
Municipal Code is hereby repealed and replaced, to read in its entirety as set forth on the
attached Exhibit D, which is incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Section 5: The following additions shall be incorporated into the Municipal Code:
• Section 23.04.050. This chapter shall not apply to Section 23.32 — Sales Tax.
• Section 23.08.060. This chapter shall not apply to Section 23.32 —Sales Tax.
• Section 23.12.050. This chapter shall not apply to Section 23.32 —Sales Tax.
• Section 23.16.050. This chapter shall not apply to Section 23.32 —Sales Tax.
• Section 23.20.080. This chapter shall not apply to Section 23.32 —Sales Tax.
• Section 23.24.040. This chapter shall not apply to Section 23.32 —Sales Tax.
• Section 23.28.100. This chapter shall not apply to Section 23.32 —Sales Tax.
Section 6: The following section for the Municipal Code shall be amended as
follows: Section 23.04.030(b)(1) shall be repealed in its current state and Section
23.04.030(b)(2) shall be renumbered as 23.04.030(b)(1).
Section 7: After adoption by the City Council, the City Clerk shall provide a copy of
this Ordinance to the executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue at least 45
days prior to the commencement of state collection of City sales taxes. If any portion of
this ordinance is declared to be void or ineffective by a court of competent jurisdiction, it
shall be deemed servered from this ordinance, and the remaining portions shall remain
valid and in full force and effect. The City's officials are authorized and directed to take
all action necessary and appropriate to effectuate the provisions of this ordinance. All
references to Colorado law are to the versions of those laws in effect at the time of this
ordinance was adopted as well as any subsequent amendments thereto.
Section 8: The Municipal Code amendments set forth in this Ordinance shall apply to
all sales transactions occurring on or after January 1, 20250
INTRODUCED AND READ, as provided by law, by the City Council of the City of Aspen on the
8th day of October 2024,
ATTEST:
Nicole Henning, City Clerk
Torre, Mayor
FINALLY, adopted, passed and approved thi3 any of
ATTEST:
vVl`
Nicole Henning, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ames R. True, City Attorney
Torre, Mayor
EXHIBIT A
Sec 23.32 - Sales Tax
Sec. 23.32.010. Purpose.
The purpose of this Article is to impose a tax on:
(1) The sale of tangible personal property at retail in the City; and
(2) The furnishing of services in the City.
Sec. 23.32.020. Definitions.
All terms used in Chapter 23 shall have the same meaning as provided for in Section 39-
26-102, C.R.S.
Sec. 23.32.030. Marketplace sales.
Application of State Sales Tax. Unless otherwise provided in this sales tax code, any
amendments thereto, or in Article 2, Title 29, C.R.S., the provisions of Article 26, Title 39,
C.R.S., shall govern the collection, administration, and enforcement of this sales tax.
Sec. 23.32.040. Rate; imposition and collection; distribution.
(a) Imposition of Sales Tax. Sales tax shall continue to be imposed and collected on all
sales of tangible personal property and services described in Section 23.32.040(b) and
occurring within the City of Aspen. The tax is imposed as provided for in Section 29-
2-105(1)(d), C.R.S. The sales tax is set at a rate of two and four tenths of a percent
(2.4%) of the amount of each sale. The taxable amount of a sale shall not include the
amount of any sales or use tax imposed by Article 26, Title 39, C.R.S. All revenue
derived through the general sales tax shall continue to be distributed in accordance
with the following:
(1) Sales tax receipts derived on or after July 1, 1990, from the one percent (1.0%)
tax levied pursuant to Ordinance No. 16, Series of 1970, shall be set aside in a
separate fund entitled "Parks and Open Space Fund," and expended by the City
Council solely for the acquisition of parks, trails and open space real property, for
the construction of improvements on any real property, owned or purchased by
the City for parks, trails and open space purposes, for maintenance of real
property owned by the City and used for parks, trails and open space and for
EXHIBIT A
payment of indebtedness incurred for acquisition or improvement of parks, trails
and open space real property, food tax refunds payable by the City and for such
expenditures as may be necessary to protect real property or the improvements
thereon owned by the City for parks, trails and open space purposes, and for the
payment of sales tax revenue bonds issued by the City; and
(2) Sales tax receipts derived from the fifteen-one hundredths of one percent (0.15%)
additional sales tax levied pursuant to the ballot question approved by City
Council in Ordinance 55, Series 2007, shall be set aside in a separate fund
designated as the "City Transportation Fund," and shall be expended by the City
Council solely for the payment of services, facilities and programs with regard to
the City transportation system.
(3) Sales tax receipts derived from the forty-five one hundredths of one percent
(0.45%) additional sales tax levied pursuant to Ordinance No. 81, Series of 1989,
shall be set aside in a separate fund designated as the "Affordable Housing Fund
and the Day Care Fund". The City Council will allocate the forty-five one
hundredths of one percent (0.45%) sales tax between the funds as it shall from
time to time designate. The sales tax from the forty-five one hundredths of one
percent (0.45%) sales tax shall be expended by the City Council for the purpose
of creating public or private affordable housing and day care opportunities within
the city and county, including but not by way of limitation, capital improvements
and capital expenditures therefor, land acquisition, payment of indebtedness
incurred in connection with any affordable housing or day care expenditures,
reserves and for expenditures necessary to protect any such property acquired or
capital improvements constructed or purchased from any and all threatened or
actual damages, loss, destruction or impairment from any such cause or
occurrences.
(4) All sales taxes collected by and paid by the County to the City in accordance with
Ordinance No. 25, Series of 1985, shall be spent solely for those purposes set
forth at Section 1 of said Ordinance.
(5) Sales tax receipts derived from the one-half percent (0.5%) sales tax levied
pursuant to Ordinance No. 7, Series of 2001, shall be set aside in the separate
EXHIBIT A
fund referenced in Paragraph 23.32.040(a)(1) and expended by the City Council
solely for the purpose of buying, improving and maintaining trail, recreation and
open space properties and ancillary facilities.
(6) Sales tax receipts derived from the thirty hundredths of one percent (0.30%)
additional sales tax levied pursuant to the ballot question approved by City
Council in Resolution 84, Series 2012 and approved by the City of Aspen
qualified electors on November 6th , 2012, shall be set aside in a separate fund
designated and the "Education Fund" and shall be expended by the City Council
solely for educational purposes providing support to the Aspen School District
No. 1 (RE).
(7) The taxes imposed in this Title shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by
law.
(b) Property and Services Taxed. The sales of tangible personal property and services
taxable under this sales tax shall be the same as the sales of tangible personal
property and services taxable pursuant to Section 39-26-104, C.R.S., subject to the
exemptions set forth below in Section 23.32.050 of this Code.
(c) Place of Sale. For the purpose of this sales tax, all retail sales are sourced as specified
in Section 39-26-104(3), C.R.S.
(d) Mobile Telecommunications Services. Without limiting the broad application of
Section 23.32.040(b) and recognizing that mobile telecommunications services are
subject to particular legal requirements, this sales tax shall apply to mobile
telecommunications services to the greatest extent permitted under Section 29-2-
105(1.5), C.R.S.
Sec. 23.32.050. Exemptions from sales tax.
(a) General Sales Tax Exemptions. Except as otherwise provided herein or in Section 29-2-
105(1)(d), C.R.S., the sales of tangible personal property and services taxable under this
ordinance shall be subject to the same exemptions as those specified in Part 7, Article 26,
Title 39, C.R.S.
(b) Specific Exemptions Required by Section 29-2-105(1)(d), C.R.S. Pursuant to Section
29-2-105(1)(d)(I)(A)-(R), C.R.S., which requires the City of Aspen to expressly exempt
EXHIBIT A
certain sales from the City’s sales tax, the City of Aspen does not currently elect to adopt
any additional exemptions.
(c) Food. Notwithstanding any other provision of this sales tax regarding the taxation of food,
this sales tax shall not apply to the following:
(1) Sales of food purchased with food stamps. For the purposes of this subsection (a),
“food” has the same meaning as provided in 7 U.S.C. § 2012, as currently in effect and
subsequently amended; and
(2) Sales of food purchased with funds provided by the special supplemental food program
for women, infants, and children, 42 U.S.C. § 1786. For the purposes of this subsection
(b), “food” has the same meaning as provided in 42 U.S.C. § 1786, as currently in
effect and subsequently amended.
(d) Certain Construction and Building Materials. This sales tax shall not apply to the sale of
“construction and building materials,” as the term is used in Section 29-2-109, C.R.S., if
the purchaser of such materials presents to the retailer a building permit or other
documentation acceptable to the City of Aspen evidencing that a local use tax has been
paid or is required to be paid on the materials.
(e) Cigarettes. This sales tax shall not apply to sales of cigarettes.
(f) Sales Subject to Prior Ownership Tax. Sales of personal property on which a specific
ownership tax has been paid or is payable are exempt from this sales tax when the sale
meets both of the following conditions: (i) the purchaser is a nonresident of the City of
Aspen or has his principal place of business outside the City of Aspen and (ii) the
personal property sold is registered or required to be registered outside the City of
Aspen’s limits under the law of the State of Colorado.
(g) Sales Subject to Prior Payment of Sales or Use Tax. This sales tax shall not apply to the
sale of tangible personal property or services if the transaction was previously subjected
to a sales or use tax lawfully imposed on the purchaser or user by another statutory or
home rule city and county, city, or City equal to or in excess of that sought to be imposed
by this sales tax. A credit shall be granted against this sales tax with respect to such
transaction equal in amount to the lawfully imposed local sales or use tax previously paid
by the purchaser or user to the previous statutory or home rule city and county, city, or
City. The amount of the credit shall not exceed the sales tax imposed herein.
EXHIBIT A
Sec. 23.32.060. Collection, Administration, and Enforcement.
Colorado Department of Revenue to Enforce. The collection, administration, and
enforcement of this sales tax shall be performed by the executive director of the Colorado
Department of Revenue in the same manner as the collection, administration, and
enforcement of the Colorado state sales tax, as supplemented by Article 2, Title 29,
C.R.S.
EXHIBIT B – Chapter 23.56
Page 1 of 3
Sec 23.56 – TOBACCO AND NICOTINE PRODUCT TAX
Sec. 23.56.010. - Legislative intent.
The City Council hereby finds that tobacco and nicotine addiction is a leading cause of
preventable death, that people should be deterred from starting the use of tobacco and nicotine
products and encouraged to quit the use of tobacco and nicotine products, and that taxes on the
sale of tobacco and nicotine products are effective at preventing and reducing tobacco and
nicotine use.
Sec. 23.56.020. - Definitions.
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and phrases as used in this
Chapter shall have the following meaning:
Cigarette means any product that contains tobacco or nicotine, that is intended to be burned or
heated under ordinary conditions of use, and consists of or contains:
(a) Any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper or in any substance not containing tobacco;
(b) Tobacco in any form that is functional in the product, which, because of its appearance,
the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging or labeling, is likely to be offered
to, or purchased by consumers as a cigarette; or
(c) Any roll of tobacco wrapped in any substance containing tobacco that, because of its
appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and labeling, is likely
to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette described in [the definition]
above.
(d) The term includes all "roll-your-own," i.e., any tobacco that, because of its appearance,
type, packaging, or labeling, is suitable for use and likely to be offered to or purchased by
consumers as tobacco for making cigarettes.
Tobacco Paraphernalia means any item designed for the consumption, use or preparation of
Tobacco Products.
Tobacco Product means 1) any product which contains, is made or derived from tobacco or used
to deliver nicotine or other substances intended for human consumption, whether heated,
EXHIBIT B – Chapter 23.56
Page 2 of 3
chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed or ingested by any other means, including,
but not limited to Cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, snuff, bidis,
snus, mints, hand gels; and 2) electronic smoking device; 3) notwithstanding any provision of
Subsections 1) and 2) to the contrary, "tobacco product" includes any component, part, accessory
or associated tobacco paraphernalia of a tobacco product whether or not sold separately. 4) The
term "Tobacco Product" does not include: (i) any product that contains marijuana; and (ii) any
product made from or derived from tobacco and approved by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for use in connection with cessation of smoking.
Tobacco Product Retail Location or Retail Location means any premises where Tobacco
Products are sold or distributed to a consumer including, but not limited to, hookah bar, lounge
or café, any grounds occupied by a retailer, any store, stand, outlet, vehicle, cart, location,
vending machine or structure where Tobacco Products are sold.
Tobacco Product Retailer means any Person who sells, offers for sale, or does or offers to
exchange for any form of consideration, Tobacco or Nicotine Products, or Tobacco
Paraphernalia. "Tobacco Retailing" shall mean the doing of any of these things. This definition is
without regard to the quantity of Tobacco Products or Tobacco Paraphernalia sold, offered for
sale, exchanged, or offered for exchange.
Tobacco Product Retailing means the selling, offering for sale, or exchanging for any form of
consideration a Tobacco Product.
Sec. 23.56.030. - Imposition and collection; distribution; effective date.
(a) There shall be a tax of fifteen cents ($0.15) per cigarette or three dollars ($3.00) per pack
of twenty (20) cigarettes sold provided that such tax shall increase by an equal amount
annually thereafter for ten years until the tax is twenty cents ($0.20) per cigarette or four
dollars ($4.00) per pack of twenty (20) cigarettes
(b) There shall be a sales tax of forty percent (40%) on the sales price of all other tobacco
products
EXHIBIT B – Chapter 23.56
Page 3 of 3
(c) Imposition and Collection. The tax specified in this Section is imposed upon any Tobacco
Product or Cigarette Sale. Revenues collected through this tax would be placed in the
General Fund with the specific purpose of financing health and human services, tobacco
related health issues, and addiction and substance abuse education and mitigation.
(d) Effective Date. The provisions of this Chapter shall be effective upon the first 1st day of
January 2018 and shall continue to be levied and collected until amended or repealed by
ordinance.
(e) The tax imposed in this Chapter shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.
Sec. 23.54.040. - Administration.
The administration of this Chapter is hereby vested in the Finance Department. The Finance
Director shall prescribe forms and administrative procedures for the ascertainment, assessment,
and collection of the tax not inconsistent with this Chapter, and for the enforcement of this
Chapter.
Sec. 23.54.050. - Violations and penalty.
Failure to comply with the terms of this Chapter by payment of taxes, filing of a return and
otherwise complying with the terms of this Chapter shall constitute an offense in violation
thereat: punishable, upon conviction, by a fine, imprisonment or both a fine and imprisonment,
as set forth in Section 1.04.080 of this Code.
Sec. 23.54.060. - Civil action for recovery of tax due.
The City shall have the right to recover all sums due under the terms of this Chapter by judgment
and execution thereon in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such remedies
shall be cumulative with all other remedies provided herein for the enforcement of this Chapter.
EXHIBIT C – Chapter 23.58
Page 1 of 1
Sec. 23.58. FOOD TAX REFUNDS
Sec. 23.58.010. Food sales tax returns.
(a) For purposes of this Chapter, and the refund of food sales tax collected, the term resident of
the City shall mean any person who is over the age of sixteen (16) years and who has
resided in the City for the entire calendar year for which a food sales tax refund is sought.
(b) Any resident of the City, as herein defined, may, not later than April 15th of every year and
so long as this Code shall be in force, apply, on such forms as provided by the Director of
Finance, for an annual food sales tax refund from the City in the amount of one hundred
thirty-two dollars ($132.00) for their self and, in addition, for every person who is a member
of their household and for whom he or she is entitled to claim a personal exemption under
and pursuant to the federal income tax laws.
(c) No person who may be claimed as a personal exemption on another resident's application
for refund shall be entitled to a food tax refund. If a food tax refund is claimed on more than
one (1) application for the same person, the Director of Finance is authorized to determine
the person entitled to claim the refund provided for in this Section.
(d) The application for refund shall be reviewed or examined by the Director of Finance. All
applicants may prove their resident status by evidence that they were registered voters of the
City for the full calendar year for which the refund applies. Any resident who is barred from
registering to vote due to non-citizenship or due to a felony conviction shall provide
alternative proof of residency, as may be required by the Finance Director for the full
calendar year. If the Finance Director is satisfied that the information provided on the
refund application entitles the applicant to a food tax refund, either in the amount claimed or
in any amount determined by the Director of Finance, the refund shall be paid. Otherwise,
the application for refund shall be denied and a notice of denial sent to the applicant at the
address furnished by the applicant.
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
Chapter 23.04. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 23.04.010. Words and phrases defined.
When not clearly indicated otherwise by the context, the following words and phrases as used in
this Title, shall have the following meanings:
Business means all activities engaged in or caused to be engaged in with the object of gain,
benefit or advantage, direct or indirect. It shall include any business, trade, occupation,
profession or calling of any kind and all other kinds of activities and matters, together with all
devices, machines, vehicles and appurtenances used therein, any of which are conducted for
private profit or benefit, either directly or indirectly, within the City.
Business License means an Aspen City business license required pursuant to Section 14.08 and
shall also be considered a combined sales tax license for businesses remitting Visitor Benefit and
Short-Term Rental tax.
Carrier Access services means the services furnished by a local exchange company to its
customers who provide telecommunications services, which allow them to provide such
telecommunications services.
Charitable organization means any entity which:
(a) Has obtained tax exempt status as a charitable not-for-profit organization pursuant to
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
(b) Is a religious organization or an organization which exclusively, and in a manner
consistent with existing laws and for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons,
freely and voluntarily ministers to the physical, mental or spiritual needs of persons
and which thereby lessens the burdens of government.
City means the municipality of Aspen.
Code means the Aspen Municipal Code.
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
Community Organization means a nonprofit entity organized and operated exclusively for the
promotion of social welfare, primarily engaged in promoting the common good and general
welfare of the community, so long as:
(a) No part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual;
(b) No substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise
attempting to influence legislation; and
(c) Which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing
of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Construction equipment means any equipment including mobile machinery and mobile
equipment, which is used to erect, install, alter, demolish, repair, remodel, or otherwise make
improvements to any real property, building, structure or infrastructure.
Construction materials means tangible personal property which, when combined with other
tangible personal property, loses its identity to become an integral and inseparable part of a
completed structure or project including public and private improvements. This term includes,
but is not limited to such things as: asphalt, bricks, builders' hardware, caulking material, cement,
concrete, conduit, electric wiring and connections, fireplace inserts, electrical heating and
cooling equipment, flooring, glass, gravel, insulation, lath, lead, lime, lumber, macadam,
millwork, mortar, oil, paint, piping, pipe valves and pipe fittings, plaster, plumbing fixtures,
putty, reinforcing mesh, road base, roofing, sand, sanitary sewer pipe, sheet metal site lighting,
steel, stone stucco, tile, trees, shrubs and other landscaping materials, wallboard, wall coping,
wallpaper, weather stripping, wire netting and screen, water mains and meters and wood
preserver. The above materials, when used for forms, or other items which do not remain as an
integral or inseparable part of a completed structure or project, are not construction materials.
Contractor means any person who shall build, construct, reconstruct, alter, expand, modify, or
improve any building, dwelling, structure, infrastructure, or other improvement to real property
for another party pursuant to an agreement. For purposes of this definition, Contractor also
includes subcontractor.
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
Dwelling Unit means a building or any portion of a building designed for occupancy as
complete, independent living quarters for one (1) or more persons, having direct access from the
outside of the building or through a common hall and having living, sleeping, kitchen and
sanitary facilities for the exclusive use of the occupants.
Engaged in business in the City means performing or providing services or selling, leasing,
renting, delivering or installing tangible personal property, products, or services for storage, use
or consumption, within the City. This term includes, but is not limited to, any one of the
following activities by a person: (a) Directly, indirectly, or by a subsidiary maintains a building,
store, office, salesroom, warehouse, or other place of business within the taxing jurisdiction; (b)
Sends one (1) or more employees, agents or commissioned sales persons into the taxing
jurisdiction to solicit business or to install, assemble, repair, service, or assist in the use of its
products, or for demonstration or other reasons; (c) Maintains one (1) or more employees, agents
or commissioned sales persons on duty at a location within the taxing jurisdiction; (d) Owns,
leases, rents or otherwise exercises control over real or personal property within the taxing
jurisdiction; (e) is a retailer or vendor in the state of Colorado that makes more than one (1)
delivery into the taxing jurisdiction within a twelve (12) month period; or (f) makes retail sales
sufficient to meet the definitional requirements of economic nexus as set forth in 23.04.010.
Finance Director means the Finance Director of the City or such other person designated by the
City. The term shall also include such person's designee.
Gross Sales means the total amount received in money, credit, property or other consideration
valued in money for all sales, leases or rentals of tangible personal property or services.
Lodging Services means the furnishing of rooms or accommodations by any person, partnership,
association, corporation, estate or any other combination of individuals by whatever name known
to a person who, for a consideration, uses, possesses or has the right to use or possess any room
in a hotel, inn, bed and breakfast residence, apartment hotel, lodging house, motor hotel, guest
house, guest ranch, trailer coach, mobile home, auto camp, trailer court and park or similar
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
establishment, for a period of less than thirty (30) days under any concession, permit, right of
access, license to use or other agreement or otherwise.
Manufacturing means the operation or performance of an integrated series of operations which
places a product, article, substance, commodity, or other tangible personal property in a form,
composition or character different from that in which it was acquired whether for sale or for use
by a manufacturer. The change in form, composition or character must result in a different
product having a distinctive name, character or use from the raw or prepared materials.
Marketplace means a physical or electronic forum, including, but not limited to, a store, a booth,
an internet website, a catalog, or a dedicated sales software application, where tangible personal
property, taxable products, or taxable services are offered for sale.
Marketplace Facilitator means a person who:
(a) (1) Contracts with a marketplace seller or multichannel seller to facilitate for
consideration, regardless of whether or not the consideration is deducted as fees from
the transaction, the sale of the marketplace seller's tangible personal property, products,
or services through the person's marketplace;
(2) Engages directly or indirectly, through one or more affiliated persons, in
transmitting or otherwise communicating the offer or acceptance between a
purchaser and the marketplace seller or multichannel seller; and
(3) Either directly or indirectly, through agreements or arrangements with third
parties, collects payment from the purchaser on behalf of the seller.
(b) "Marketplace Facilitator" does not include:
(1) A marketplace facilitator, marketplace seller or multichannel seller that offers or
facilitates the advertising, booking, or collection of sales and fees for short-term
rentals subject to the permit requirements of Chapter 26.530 of the City of Aspen
Municipal Code;
(2) A person that exclusively provides internet advertising services or lists products
for sale, and that does not otherwise meet this definition.
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
Marketplace Seller means a person, regardless of whether or not the person is engaged in
business in the city, which has an agreement with a marketplace facilitator and offers for sale
tangible personal property, products, or services through a marketplace owned, operated, or
controlled by a marketplace facilitator.
Multichannel seller means a retailer that offers for sale tangible personal property, commodities,
or services through a marketplace owned, operated, or controlled by a marketplace facilitator,
and through other means.
Municipality. Any municipal corporation or similar form of local government including any city,
town or city and county, whether organized pursuant to charter, constitution or statute, in
Colorado or another state, except counties, school districts or special districts and the city.
Person. Any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, estate or trust, receiver,
trustee, assignee, lessee or any person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether
appointed by court or otherwise, or any group or combination acting as a unit.
Price or purchase price.
(a) The price to the consumer, exclusive of any direct tax imposed by the federal
government or by this Chapter and, in the case of all retail sales involving the
exchange of property, also exclusive of the fair market value of the property exchanged
at the same time and place of the exchange, if:
(1) Such exchanged property is to be sold thereafter in the usual course of the
retailer's business; or
(2) Such exchanged property is a vehicle and is exchanged for another vehicle and
both vehicles are subject to licensing, registration or certification under the laws
of this State, including but not limited to vehicles operating upon public
highways, off-highway recreation vehicles, watercraft and aircraft. Any money or
other consideration paid over and above the value of the exchanged property is
subject to tax.
(b) The terms price or purchase price include:
(1) The amount of money received or due in cash and credits.
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
(2) Property at fair market value taken in exchange but not for resale in the usual
course of the retailer's business.
(3) Any consideration valued in money, such as trading stamps or coupons whereby
the manufacturer or someone else reimburses the retailer for part of the purchase
price and other media of exchange.
(4) The total price charged on credit sales, including finance charges which are not
separately stated. An amount charged as interest on the unpaid balance of the
purchase price is not part of the purchase price, unless the amount added to the
purchase price is included in the principal amount of a promissory note; except
the interest or carrying charge set out separately from the unpaid balance of the
purchase price on the face of the note is not part of the purchase price. An amount
charged for insurance on the property sold and separately stated is not part of the
purchase price.
(5) Installation, delivery and wheeling-in charges included in the purchase price and
not separately stated.
(6) Transportation and other charges to effect delivery of tangible personal property
to the purchaser.
(7) Indirect federal manufacturers' excise taxes, such as taxes on automobiles, tires
and floor stock.
(8) The gross purchase price of articles sold after manufacturing or after having been
made to order, including the gross value of all materials used, labor and service
performed and the profit thereon.
(c) The terms price or purchase price do not include:
(1) Any sales or use tax imposed by the State or by any political subdivision thereof.
(2) The fair market value of property exchanged if such property is to be sold
thereafter in the retailer's usual course of business. This is not limited to
exchanges in Colorado. Out-of-state trade-ins are an allowable adjustment to the
purchase price.
(3) Discounts from the original price if such discount and the corresponding decrease
in sales tax due are actually passed on to the purchaser. An anticipated discount to
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
be allowed for payment on or before a given date is not an allowable adjustment
to the price in reporting gross sales.
Public. Any individual, firm, co-partnership, joint venture, corporation, society, club, league,
association, joint stock company, estate or trust, receiver, trustee, assignee, lessee or any person
acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by court or otherwise, or any
group or combination acting as a unit and the plural as well as the singular number.
Purchase or sale.
(a) The acquisition for any consideration by any person of tangible personal property or
taxable services that are purchased, leased, rented, sold, used, stored, distributed or
consumed, but excludes a bonafide gift of property or services. These terms include
capital leases, installment and credit sales and property and services acquired by:
(1) Transfer, either conditionally or absolutely, of title or possession, or both, to
tangible personal property.
(2) A lease, lease-purchase agreement, rental, or grant of a license, including royalty
agreements; to use tangible personal property or taxable services. The use of coin-
operated devices, except coin-operated telephones, which do not vend articles of
tangible personal property, shall be considered short term rentals of tangible
personal property.
(3) Performance of taxable services; or
(4) Barter or exchange for other property or services including coupons.
(b) The terms purchase and sale do not include:
(1) A division of partnership assets among the partners according to their interests in
the partnership;
(2) The formation of a corporation by the owners of a business and the transfer of
their business assets to the corporation in exchange for all of the corporation's
outstanding stock, except qualifying shares, in proportion to the assets
contributed;
(3) The transfer of assets of shareholders in the formation or dissolution of
professional corporations;
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
(4) The dissolution and the pro rata distribution of a corporation's assets to its
stockholders;
(5) A transfer of a partnership interest;
(6) The transfer in a reorganization qualifying under Section 368(a)(1) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as amended;
(7) The formation of a partnership by the transfer of assets to the partnership or
transfers to a partnership in exchange for proportionate interests in the
partnership;
(8) The repossession of personal property by a chattel mortgage holder or foreclosure
by a lienholder;
(9) The transfer of assets from a parent corporation to a subsidiary corporation or
corporations which are owned at least eighty percent (80%) by the parent
corporation, which transfer is solely in exchange for stock or securities of the
subsidiary corporation;
(10) The transfer of assets from a subsidiary corporation or corporations which are
owned at least eighty percent (80%) by the parent corporation to a parent
corporation or to another subsidiary which is owned at least eighty percent (80%)
by the parent corporation, which transfer is solely in exchange for stock or
securities of the parent corporation or the subsidiary which received the assets; or
(11) The transfer of assets between parent and closely held subsidiary corporations, or
between subsidiary corporations closely held by the same parent corporation or
between corporations which are owned by the same shareholders in identical
percentage of stock ownership amounts, computed on a share-by-share basis,
when a tax imposed by this Title was paid by the transferor corporation at the time
it acquired such assets, except to the extent that there is an increase in the fair
market value of such assets resulting from the manufacturing, fabricating or
physical changing of the assets by the transfer or corporation. To such an extent
any transfer referred to in this Subsection (11) shall constitute a sale. For the
purpose of this Subsection (11), a closely held subsidiary corporation is one in
which the parent corporation owns stock possessing at least eighty percent (80%)
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote and
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
owns at least eighty percent (80%) of the total number of shares of all other
classes of stock.
Retail sales. All sales made within the City except wholesale sales.
Retailer or vendor means any person selling, leasing, renting, or granting a license to use
tangible personal property or services at retail. The terms "retailer" shall include, but is not
limited to, any:
(a) Auctioneer;
(b) Salesperson, representative, peddler or canvasser, who makes sales as a direct or
indirect agent of or obtains such property or services sold from a dealer, distributor,
supervisor or employer;
(c) Charitable organization or governmental entity which makes sales of tangible personal
property to the public, notwithstanding the fact that the merchandise sold may have
been acquired by gift or donation or that the proceeds are to be used for charitable or
governmental purposes;
(d) Retailer-contractor, when acting in the capacity of a seller of building supplies,
construction materials, and other tangible personal property;
(e) Marketplace facilitator, marketplace seller, or multichannel seller.
Retailer-Contractor means a contractor who is also a retailer of building supplies, construction
materials, or other tangible personal property, and purchases, manufactures, or fabricates such
property for sale (which may include installation), repair work, time and materials jobs, and/or
lump sum contracts.
Return. The sales tax reporting form used to report sales tax.
Sale that Benefits a Colorado School means a sale of a commodity or service from which all
proceeds of the sale, less only the actual cost of the commodity or service to a person or entity as
described in this Code, are donated to a school or a school-approved student organization.
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
Sales tax. The tax to be collected and remitted by a retailer on sales taxes under this Title.
School means a public or nonpublic school for students in kindergarten through twelfth (12th)
grade or any portion thereof.
State. The State of Colorado.
Tangible Personal Property means personal property that can be one (1) or more of the
following: seen, weighed, measured, felt, touched, stored, transported, exchanged, or that is in
any other manner perceptible to the senses.
Tax. The tax due from a retailer.
Tax Deficiency or Deficiency means any amount of tax, penalty, interest, or other fee that is not
reported and/or not paid on or before the date that any return or payment of the tax is required
under the terms of this Code.
Taxable sales. Gross sales less any exemptions and deductions specified in this Title.
Taxable services. Services subject to the tax pursuant to this Title.
Taxpayer. Any person obligated to collect and/or pay tax under the terms of this Title.
Telecommunications services. The transmission of any two-way interactive electromagnetic
communications including, but not limited to voice, image, data and any other information, by
the use of any means, but not limited to wire, cable, fiber optical cable, microwave, radio wave
or any combinations of such media. This term includes, but is not limited to basic local exchange
telephone service, toll telephone service and teletypewriter service, including but not limited to
residential and business service, directory assistance, cellular mobile telephone, or
telecommunication service, specialized mobile radio and two-way pagers and paging service,
including any form of mobile two-way communication. This term does not include separately
EXHIBIT D – Section 23.04.010
stated non-transmission services which constitute computer-processing applications used to act
on the information to be transmitted.
Total tax liability. The total of all tax, penalties or interest owed by a taxpayer and shall include
tax collected in excess of such tax computed on total sales.
Use means the exercise, for any length of time by any person within the City of any right, power
or dominion over tangible personal property or services when rented, leased or purchased at
retail from sources either within or without the City from any person or vendor or used in the
performance of a contract in the City whether such tangible personal property is owned or not
owned by the taxpayer. Use also includes the withdrawal of items from inventory for
consumption.