The Loveland sales tax rate is 3.00% at the city level, and once Colorado’s 2.90% state tax and Larimer County’s 1.05% tax are added, most retail transactions in the city carry a combined rate of 6.95% as of January 1, 2026.1City of Loveland. Announcements Loveland is a home-rule city, so it collects its own tax directly rather than through the state, and every business making taxable sales in the city needs its own Loveland sales tax license.
How the Combined Rate Breaks Down
Three layers of tax apply at a Loveland register:
- Colorado state sales tax: 2.90%
- Larimer County sales tax: 1.05% (up from 0.80% on January 1, 2026)
- City of Loveland sales tax: 3.00%
The city’s 3.00% rate is set in Chapter 3.16 of the Loveland Municipal Code and applies to retail sales of tangible personal property and certain services.2City of Loveland. Ordinance No. 6354 – Amending Title 3 of the Loveland Municipal Code The county increase came from a voter-approved quarter-percent tax funding early childhood and childcare programs.3Larimer County. Sales and Use Tax
The Centerra Exception
Shopping at The Promenade Shops, Centerra Marketplace, or the Centerra Motorplex works differently. Inside those areas the city’s sales tax is reduced to 1.75%, but two additional charges apply: a 1.25% Public Improvement Fee (PIF) and a 1.00% Retail Sales Fee (RSF). Auto sales in the Centerra area are exempt from the RSF. Because the PIF and RSF are treated as part of the sale price rather than as taxes, they are themselves subject to sales tax. The reduced city rate and the fees apply only to in-store purchases at those brick-and-mortar locations; deliveries and online orders tied to Centerra pay the full 3.00% city rate.4City of Loveland. PIF and RSF Fees
What’s Taxed and What’s Exempt
Loveland taxes retail sales of tangible personal property and certain services within city limits. The city does not impose a general consumer use tax, so residents and businesses buying goods from outside Loveland for local use don’t owe a separate city use tax on those purchases.5City of Loveland. General Information
As of January 1, 2024, Loveland generally follows the state exemption list in Colorado Revised Statutes Title 39, Article 26, Part 7, with two carve-outs. The city still taxes electricity, coal, wood, gas, fuel oil, and coke, and it still taxes machinery and machine tools, even though those categories are exempt at the state level.6City of Loveland. Definitions and Exemptions
Getting a Loveland Sales Tax License
Any person or business making retail sales of taxable goods or services in Loveland needs a sales tax license before the first sale.5City of Loveland. General Information Applications go through the city’s Citizen Access portal and require your legal business name, FEIN or Social Security number, entity type, and physical business address.7City of Loveland. Sales Tax The application fee is $20 and is non-refundable.
Regular sales tax licenses expire December 31 each year. Renewal costs $20 and can be paid online through Citizen Access or by mail using the invoice the city sends. Businesses without a physical location in Loveland can hold a non-physical sales tax license instead. That license doesn’t expire and stays active until the holder submits a written request to close it.8City of Loveland. Loveland Sales Tax Licenses
Filing Returns and Paying
Returns are due on or before the 20th of the month following the close of the reporting period. If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.5City of Loveland. General Information The city assigns each license a filing frequency of monthly, quarterly, or annual based on the amount of tax collected. Zero-sales periods still require a return showing zero.
Payments are made electronically through Citizen Access using ACH debit from a business bank account.7City of Loveland. Sales Tax Loveland does not offer a vendor fee, so there’s no discount for filing on time.5City of Loveland. General Information
Late Filing and Voluntary Disclosure
If a business fails to file or remit tax owed, the city manager can estimate the tax due and assess it against the business, with penalties and interest accumulating on the unpaid balance under Chapter 3.16. A business that finds it has been out of compliance can enter a voluntary disclosure agreement, which limits the self-audit lookback to three years or the actual period of noncompliance, whichever is shorter.9City of Loveland. Voluntary Disclosure Agreement
Remote Sellers Selling into Loveland
Loveland does not participate in Colorado’s Sales and Use Tax System (SUTS), so remote sellers cannot satisfy their Loveland obligation through the state’s centralized filing.10Department of Revenue – Taxation. SUTS Participating Jurisdictions Out-of-state businesses with nexus to the city must register directly with Loveland and file through Citizen Access.11Colorado Department of Revenue – Taxation. Local Government Sales Tax The non-physical sales tax license is built for this situation, since it doesn’t expire and needs no annual renewal.