A free tool called SimpleFile helps families with low or no income get the money in 15 minutes or less. The deadline to submit is Monday, Nov. 16.
Key Points:
- Up to $4,473 per child or dependent in state tax money is available to qualifying families.
- Families can qualify even if they have no income, do not usually file taxes, or have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number.
- The money does not affect most benefits or need to be repaid.
- SimpleFile is free, takes 15 minutes or less, and is available in English and Spanish. Families must submit by Monday, Nov. 16, on the SimpleFile website.
- To receive this information in another language, email HSCommunications@bouldercounty.gov.
Boulder County, Colo. – Colorado families may qualify for thousands in state tax money, and many do not know it. A free online tool called SimpleFile can help them claim it in 15 minutes or less. The deadline to submit is Monday, Nov. 16.
SimpleFile, built by the national nonprofit Code for America, helps families who might not otherwise file taxes claim two Colorado tax credits they may be owed: the Colorado Child Tax Credit and the Family Affordability Tax Credit. Together, the credits are worth up to $4,473 per child or dependent age 5 and under, and up to $2,455 per child ages 6-16. The money can help families pay for food, housing, childcare, and other household costs.
Families can qualify even if they have no income, do not usually file taxes, or have never filed before. They may also qualify if they or their child has an ITIN instead of a Social Security number. The credits do not affect most benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); Medicaid, called Health First Colorado in our state; and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), called Colorado Works.
“With rising costs and changes to SNAP and Medicaid eligibility, many families are struggling to afford the basics,” said Susan Caskey, director of Boulder County Human Services. “This is money they may be owed, and SimpleFile makes it easy to claim. You don't need to gather pay stubs or pay someone to do your taxes. You just answer a few questions on your phone or computer.”
To use SimpleFile, families must be full-year Colorado residents, must have made less than $15,000, or less than $26,000 if married, and must not have already filed a 2025 tax return. Families who earn more may still qualify for the credits by filing a Colorado state tax return.
Families can submit by Monday, Nov. 16 on the SimpleFile website (simplefile.org/bchs). The website is also available in Spanish (simplefile.org/es/bchs).
About Boulder County Human Services
Boulder County Human Services is a department of more than 350 staff who support the health, safety, and well-being of local community members. Each year, we serve more than 110,000 people across Boulder County with access to food and cash assistance, health coverage, childcare, family services, and more. Visit the Human Services website at boco.org/HumanServices.