If you’re 60 or older in Douglas County, Colorado, you may be able to work for the county for a while and use your earnings to cover part of your property tax bill.
The Douglas County Tax Work-Off Program lets older homeowners and homeowners with disabilities take on temporary work in county departments. At Colorado’s 2026 minimum wage, 100 hours of work could earn up to $1,516 toward eligible county property taxes.
There’s no general application deadline, but available jobs depend on the county’s needs. Here’s how it works.
How Does the Tax Work-Off Program Work?
The Douglas County Tax Work-Off Program gives eligible homeowners an opportunity to earn money toward their property taxes by filling temporary staffing needs in county departments.
Assignments may involve office work, customer service or other tasks, depending on which departments need help.
You can work up to 100 hours at minimum wage, or until you’ve earned the amount of eligible county property taxes you owe, whichever is less.
In 2026, Colorado’s minimum wage is $15.16 per hour. That means:
- 25 hours could earn $379.
- 50 hours could earn $758.
- 100 hours could earn $1,516.
These amounts are examples, not guaranteed payments. Your actual earnings depend on the hours you’re assigned, the work you complete and the amount of eligible property taxes.
The program covers the Douglas County portion of your property taxes, rather than necessarily paying your entire property tax bill.
How Do I Get Paid?
Instead of paying you directly like a regular paycheck, the county uses a special payment process.
After you complete your approved work, the county issues a check payable to the Douglas County Treasurer.
You’re responsible for delivering that check to the Treasurer’s Office so the payment can be credited toward your eligible property taxes.
What if you’ve already paid your property taxes?
You can still receive payment for the work you completed. If the eligible taxes have already been paid, the Treasurer can sign the check over to you as reimbursement.
The amount remains subject to the program’s limits, even if you’ve already paid your tax bill.
Who Qualifies?
According to Douglas County, applicants must meet these basic requirements:
- Be 60 or older, OR have a disability.
- Own a home in Douglas County, Colorado.
- Live at the property for which the taxes are being paid.
- Have eligible Douglas County property taxes associated with that home.
The property must be your primary residence and cannot be an income-producing property.
First responders with a permanent job-related disability may also qualify under the program’s disability provisions.
If you’re applying because of a disability, you’ll need to provide supporting documentation. The county’s application identifies acceptable documentation from a licensed medical professional or an applicable pension authority.
You do not have to be both 60 or older and disabled. Meeting either age or disability eligibility may satisfy that part of the requirements.
Is There a Deadline?
Douglas County’s program information does not list a general application deadline.
However, applying does not guarantee you’ll receive a job assignment.
The county offers temporary positions based on its operational needs at the time you apply. If no suitable work is available, you may have to wait for an opportunity.
Pre-employment screenings are also required, so this is not simply a volunteer program where you can start working immediately.
It’s worth asking Human Resources whether positions are currently available before making plans around the potential earnings.
How Do I Apply?
The program is managed by the Douglas County Department of Human Resources.
Start by visiting the official Tax Work-Off Program page, where you can find the application and current program instructions.
Here’s what to do:
- Get the application. Download the Tax Work-Off application linked on the county’s website.
- Complete your information. Include the type of work you’re interested in and your availability.
- Gather your documents. Include your previous year’s property tax statement or Statement of Taxes Due. If applying based on disability, include the required supporting documentation.
- Submit your application. The county accepts applications by mail or email using the submission information provided on the form.
- Complete any required screening. Human Resources will determine whether an appropriate temporary assignment is available.
For mailed applications, the county lists this address:
Douglas County Department of Human Resources
100 Third Street
Castle Rock, CO 80104
If you prefer to submit by email, use the current submission instructions on the official application rather than an address from an older document.
Remember that the program’s payment limit is tied to your eligible county property taxes. Even if you’re available to work 100 hours, you may not be assigned that many hours.
Relief Recap
The Douglas County Tax Work-Off Program gives eligible homeowners age 60 and older, as well as homeowners with disabilities, a way to earn money toward their county property taxes.
You may be able to work up to 100 hours at minimum wage, which would equal $1,516 at Colorado’s 2026 rate. Your actual earnings cannot exceed the eligible county property taxes covered by the program.
There is no general application deadline, but positions depend on county staffing needs, and pre-employment screenings are required.
If you own and live in your Douglas County home and could use some help with property taxes, visit the Douglas County Tax Work-Off Program page to find the application and ask Human Resources about available opportunities.
