In short
Aspen charges 2 local taxes on a home sale: Wheeler RETT, Housing RETT. On the median owner-occupied home ($819,900), local taxes come to $11,299; with the Colorado state tax of $82, the total is $11,380, or 1.39% of the price.
Median value: $819,900 median value of owner-occupied homes, Aspen city, Colorado (Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25077). It is an owner estimate, not a sale price.
What you pay at different prices
| Price | Wheeler RETT | Housing RETT | Colorado state tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $30 | $3,530 |
| $500,000 | $2,500 | $4,000 | $50 | $6,550 |
| $819,900 median home | $4,100 | $7,199 | $82 | $11,380 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,000 | $9,000 | $100 | $14,100 |
| $2,000,000 | $10,000 | $19,000 | $200 | $29,200 |
Before exemptions and credits (first-time buyers, transfers between relatives…), which are listed below when the source gives them. The tax due on your deed is the one the recorder computes.
The rates, tax by tax
Wheeler RETT
0.5% of the consideration (Wheeler Opera House / arts).
Who pays: Transfer taxes are the responsibility of the purchasing party.
In force: Levied since January 1, 1979; extended through December 31, 2039. Source: City of Aspen, Real Estate Transfer Tax.
Housing RETT
1.0% of the consideration above $100,000 (first $100,000 excluded); existing affordable deed-restricted units exempt.
Who pays: Transfer taxes are the responsibility of the purchasing party.
Exemptions: First $100,000 of consideration excluded; existing affordable deed restricted housing units exempt.
In force: Effective July 1, 1989; expires following December 31, 2060 absent voter extension. Source: City of Aspen, Real Estate Transfer Tax.
Questions
How much local transfer tax do you pay on a median home in Aspen?
$11,299 on $819,900, the median value of owner-occupied homes (Census ACS). Payotte computes it from the rates published by the official sources cited on the page.
Who pays the Wheeler RETT in Aspen?
Transfer taxes are the responsibility of the purchasing party.
Is the local tax on top of the Colorado tax?
Yes. The local taxes listed here are added to the Colorado state transfer tax.
General information drawn from the official sources cited and dated on this page. It is not legal, tax or financial advice: for your own situation, ask a licensed professional.