City and
TAX GUIDE
Topic No. 6
AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES - SHORT-TERM RENTAL
TAX RATE
As part of the funding for the bonds issued to finance
construction and expansion of the
The additional tax over the general sales tax rate of 3.62% is legally pledged to retire the Convention Center bonds. Tax collected on automotive vehicle rentals must be separately reported on Line 5B of the sales tax return.
TYPES OF VEHICLES SUBJECT TO
THE SPECIAL RATE
The special tax rate of 7.25% applies to short-term (30 days or less) rentals of automotive vehicles of the type required to be registered with Denver Motor Vehicle Division and includes:
Aircraft
Automobiles
Dump Trucks
Trucks
Trailers
Semi-Trailers
Motor Homes
Motorcycles
Motor Scooters (excluding mopeds);
and all other vehicles defined as automotive vehicles in DRMC Sections 53-24(1) and 53-95(1).
The special tax rate does not apply to vehicles, self-propelled or otherwise, which are not designed primarily for the transportation of persons or cargo over the public highways. This includes wheeled vehicles commonly used in the construction, maintenance, and repair of roadways, such as:
Cranes Office Trailers
Concrete Pumpers Off-Highway Trucks
Air
Compressors Special
Mobile Welders
The tax rate (3.62%) applies to the rental of this type of equipment.
TAXABLE VERSUS NON-TAXABLE
CHARGES
The following is a list of common charges appearing on an automotive vehicle rental invoice. Included is a summary describing the taxability of the charge and the appropriate tax rate:
A. Time & Mileage: Taxable (7.25%)
B. Additional Driver: Taxable (7.25%)
C. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): Taxable (7.25%). This is not a charge for insurance. It is a fee imposed by the rental company, at the renter’s option, that eliminates or reduces the monetary liability the renter would otherwise be subject to when damage occurs to the vehicle.
D. Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), Personal Effects Coverage (PEC), and other optional insurance charges: Not taxable if the charge is actually for insurance, such as the rental company contracting with a third party insurance company to provide this service.
E. Refueling Charge: Not taxable if the rental contract imposes a refueling charge when the vehicle is returned with less than a full tank of gas. Taxable (7.25%) if the rental contract imposes a mandatory fuel charge, regardless of whether the vehicle is returned with a full tank of gas or not.
F. Optional Rental Items (e.g., cellular phone, baby seat, ski rack): Taxable at 7.25% rate if not separately stated on the invoice. Otherwise, Taxable at 3.62% rate (the general tax rate) if separately stated.
G.
Port Fee: Taxable (7.25%). This fee is imposed
on the receipts of vehicle rental companies at
In addition to the above charges,
the State of
EXAMPLE
Eddie rents an RV from Bob’s RV Rental at the following daily rates:
A. Base daily rental $69.95
B. Additional driver 5.00
C. CDW 11.95
D. VIC (flat rate) 12.00
E. Barbecue Grill; TV; Chairs 15.00
The VIC charge (Vacation Interruption Charge) is an insurance charge when Bob’s
RV Rental collects the premiums on behalf of a third party insurance company.
The barbecue grill, TV, and chairs charge is identified as a separate item on
the invoice.
In this example, charges for A, B, and C are taxable at 7.25%; the charge for D is not taxable; and the charge for E is taxable at 3.62%.
* DRMC Section 53-24(1). Definitions.
* DRMC Section 53-27. Retailers to collect tax.
* DRMC Section 53-33. Tax on rentals.
* DRMC Section 53-95(1). Definitions
* DRMC Section 53-98. Retailers to collect tax.
* DRMC Section 53-103.1. Tax on rentals.
* CRS 42-1-102(43). Definitions.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS A
SUMMARY IN LAYMAN'S TERMS OF THE RELEVANT