Paying property taxes is yet another essential aspect of being a homeowner. But rates can vary from year to year for a variety of reasons, like ongoing local government projects or changes in real estate market conditions, so it can be confusing to figure out how much you owe.

That’s why home and

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is here to give you the rundown on property taxes in

Colorado’s

Jefferson County. Read on to learn about Jefferson County property taxes, like when and how to pay them and where those funds go.

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Property tax 101

Property taxes can be confusing, especially if this is your first time paying them. In general, here’s how they work:

Your property value will be determined by a local tax assessor

That value will be calculated based on local market conditions

Your assessed value and the local tax rate will be used to calculate how much you owe for the year in property taxes

Once paid, those funds will be used by your local government to support the various city and county services and projects

MORE: How to get a hybrid or electric car tax credit

What is the property tax rate in Jefferson County?

In Jefferson County, Colorado, the average property tax rate is 0.7% of a home’s assessed value. That’s just slightly more than Colorado’s state average of 0.6.%. At that rate, Jefferson County residents pay an average of $1,805 in annual property taxes.

How Jefferson County property taxes are determined

Jefferson County’s property taxes are determined by the county assessor and the total mill levies established for your area.

A mill is worth 1/10 of a cent, which comes out to $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

To calculate how much you’d owe in property taxes, you’d multiply your property’s assessed value by its assessment rate, then by the mill levy for your tax district.

If your home was determined to have an actual value of $250,000 and the assessment rate was 7.2%, you’d have an assessed value of $18,000. If the mill levy was 100 mills, that would come out to $1,800 in property taxes.

For more information regarding how property taxes are determined, visit

Jefferson County’s website

What do Jefferson County property taxes pay for?

Jefferson County uses property tax revenue to fund various projects and services, including:

Public schools

First responders

Roads, bridges, transportation

Libraries

Roads and highways

Sewage systems

Water and sanitation services

Fairgrounds

Regional airport

Death certificates, autopsies

Public health

Social services

As Jefferson County continues to deal with

budget cuts

amid financial challenges, participating in county board meetings will be especially important for the foreseeable future to voice your opinion on how property tax funds should be spent at the county level.

MORE: How to deduct a car accident from your taxes

How to pay property taxes in Jefferson County

Jefferson County property taxes can be paid in one lump sum or two different payments. If you’re paying all at once, your property taxes are due by April 30. If you’re making two payments, the first half is due by February 28, and the second half is due by June 15.

To pay your property taxes in Jefferson County, you have

several different options

Online: Online payments can be made using the

Treasurer Property Records Search Application

. Paying with a credit or debit card will be subject to fees.

By mail: Personal checks, cashier's checks, or money orders can be sent in using the return envelope provided with your statement, which will have a Denver address, but it’s correct. You can also send payments to Jefferson County Treasurer, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Ste 2520, Golden, CO 80419-2520. If using a check, write your property identification number on the check.

By phone: Call the treasurer’s office’s toll-free payment system at 866-898-2919. Card fees will apply, but there are no fees for paying from a bank account.

In person: You can pay your property taxes in person using a personal check, cashier's check, or money order. You’ll find the treasurer’s office on the second floor at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 250 in Golden.

Through your mortgage: If you’ve set up your property taxes to be paid through your mortgage lender, Jefferson County should send the necessary property tax information to your lender so they can pay it on your behalf. You can check with both entities to make sure this is set up properly for you.

For more payment options and how to make them, visit the

treasurer’s office page

on the Jefferson County website.

MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?

How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in Colorado

While you might not be able to change property tax rates after they’ve been set, there are other ways to save as a homeowner. No matter where you live in Colorado,

Jerry

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If you’ve never used Jerry before, here’s how it works. Once you download the app, you’ll just answer a few brief questions, and then, you can start comparing competitive quotes from top insurance providers to find the right policy for you at the best price.

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FAQs

When are property taxes due in Jefferson County?

How do I get my Colorado property tax statement?

You should receive a property tax statement in the mail by January 31. Not receiving one doesn’t alleviate your responsibility to pay taxes, though, so if you haven’t received it, you’ll want to

contact the treasurer’s office

Are property taxes high in Jefferson County?

Jefferson County residents pay an average property tax rate of 0.7%, or about $1,805 per year, which is less than both the Colorado state and national averages.

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