Excise Tax Evaluations

Colorado levies excise taxes on a variety of goods and activities, including motor and aviation fuel, cigarettes and tobacco products, marijuana and marijuana products, liquor, gaming, nicotine products, and sports betting. In contrast to a sales tax, the excise tax is generally paid by the manufacturer or retailer, not the final consumer of the product. However, the retailer who ultimately sells the goods to the final consumer often builds the cost of the excise taxes into the purchase price of the goods. For excise taxes that are levied on activities such as gaming, the tax base is typically the gross, adjusted gross, or net proceeds from the activity. The state excise tax rate varies based on the type of good and the quantity purchased.