Colorado Increases Retail Delivery Fee to 31 Cents
Online shoppers in Colorado will pay a higher state-mandated fee on qualifying deliveries through June 2027.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Inflation
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As of July 1, 2026, Colorado increased its state-mandated retail delivery fee to 31 cents per order for purchases delivered by motor vehicle. This adjustment impacts most online orders, including those handled by third-party delivery services and the U.S. Postal Service, for shoppers statewide.
Why it matters
The fee helps fund state-wide transportation initiatives, including road and bridge repairs as well as public transit and air pollution reduction projects. It is adjusted annually for inflation to ensure project funding keeps pace with costs, directly affecting the final checkout price for Coloradans.
The retail delivery fee rose to 31 cents on July 1, 2026, marking a 3-cent increase from the previous 28-cent rate. This state-mandated charge is applied once per qualifying transaction for goods delivered by motor vehicle through June 30, 2027.
The players
Colorado Department of Revenue
The state agency responsible for managing tax policy and adjusting the annual delivery fee for inflation.
The details
The fee is applied to online retail sales delivered by motor vehicle that contain at least one taxable item. If a retailer chooses to pass this charge to the customer, it must be clearly labeled as a Retail Delivery Fee on the receipt. Purchases consisting only of tax-exempt items, as well as orders where the shopper collects their own goods, remain exempt from the fee.
Timeline
July 2022 marked the introduction of Colorado's retail delivery fee at 27 cents.
The current 31-cent fee took effect on July 1, 2026.
The 31-cent rate remains in effect through June 30, 2027.
Money Landscape
The fee is a direct byproduct of the funding mechanisms established by Senate Bill 21-260, which set the framework for Colorado's transportation infrastructure investments. This annual adjustment reflects a broader policy cycle aimed at indexing user-based fees to current inflation levels.
Shoppers should anticipate seeing an additional 31-cent line item on online orders containing taxable goods delivered to their homes. While this is a small increase, households that frequently utilize delivery services for everyday items may want to review their monthly shopping budget.
The takeaway
The state-mandated fee serves as a dedicated funding stream for local transportation and transit infrastructure. Review your digital receipts and consider consolidating orders where possible to manage the impact of per-delivery fees on your total household spending.
Further reading
For more on how rising costs affect your budget, visit Inflation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Scottish Sun.
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