Taxes in Colombia every foreign company must know before operating (2025)

Before opening a company or investing in Colombia, it is essential to understand the tax rules of the game. Foreign companies are subject to the same taxes in Colombia and accounting obligations as local ones, with strict oversight from the DIAN (National Tax and Customs Authority) and municipal authorities.

This article explains the main taxes in Colombia, deadlines, and requirements that every foreign company must understand to operate legally and avoid penalties.

1. Corporate Income Tax: The Starting Point

The Income Tax applies to profits generated by the company in Colombia.

• General rate 2025: 35%.
  
  
• Free Trade Zones: 20%.
  
  
• Surtaxes: apply to certain sectors such as banking, hydrocarbons, and mining.
  
  
• Filing: annually (April – May 2025, depending on the company’s NIT tax ID).
  
  
• Advance payments: may be required throughout the year to avoid large year-end balances.
  
  

💡 Practical example: a foreign subsidiary with a NIT ending in “58” must file its 2024 income tax return during the second week of May 2025.

⚠️ Tax reconciliation with the DIAN is mandatory: financial statements must match accounting information prepared under IFRS (NIIF in Colombia) adjusted to the tax regime.

2.VAT: Value-Added Tax

• General rate: 19%.
  
  
• Reduced rates: 5% for specific goods and services.
  
  
• Exempt: exports, books, and certain basic foods.
  
  
• Filing frequency: depends on income level (bimonthly, quarterly, or annual).
  
  
• Electronic invoicing: mandatory for all VAT taxpayers.
  
  

Foreign companies that sell in Colombia (even without a physical office) must analyze whether they become VAT taxpayers under the “significant economic presence” principle.

3.Withholding Tax (Retención en la Fuente)

Every company that pays taxable income must act as a withholding agent:

• Salaries, professional fees, rent: 2.5% to 10%.
  
  
• Dividends:
  
  
  • To residents: 20%.
    
    
  • To non-residents: 20% or lower if a double taxation treaty applies.
    
    
• Payments abroad: subject to specific withholding rates (Articles 406–408 of the Colombian Tax Code).
  
  

💡 Key fact: Treaties with Spain, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, and South Korea can significantly reduce these rates.

4.ICA (Industry and Commerce Tax)

A municipal tax that applies to the company’s gross income:

• Rate: between 0.2% and 1%.
  
  
• Frequency: annual or bimonthly, depending on the municipality.
  
  
• Deductibility: partially deductible from income tax.

5. Other Relevant Taxes in Colombia

6. Accounting Obligations and IFRS (NIIF) Standards

Every company in Colombia must keep accounting records in Spanish and in Colombian pesos (COP), following the Unified Chart of Accounts (PUC) and IFRS standards.

Classification:

• Group 1 → Full IFRS (large and listed companies).
  
  
• Group 2 → IFRS for SMEs.
  
  
• Group 3 → Microenterprises.
  
  

💡 Noncompliance can result in penalties of up to 200 monthly minimum wages (≈ COP $160 million in 2025).

Many multinational companies prepare two sets of financial statements: one under Colombian IFRS (for DIAN) and another according to their home-country standards.

7. Payroll, Social Security, and Labor Obligations

In Colombia, hiring even a single employee entails the following obligations:

• Minimum wage 2025: COP $1,423,500.
  
  
• Social security contributions:
  
  
  • Health: 12.5%
    
    
  • Pension: 16%
    
    
  • Occupational risk (ARL): 0.5%–6.9% (depending on risk level)
    
    
• Parafiscal contributions: 9% total (Family Compensation Fund 4%, SENA 2%, ICBF 3%).
  
  
• Benefits: severance, vacation, service bonuses, interest, and transportation allowance.
  
  

💡 The real cost of an employee can be up to 35% higher than the base salary.

8. Statutory Auditor (Revisor Fiscal): Mandatory Audit

Required for:

• Corporations (S.A.).
  
  
• Branches of foreign companies.
  
  
• SAS (Simplified Stock Companies) with assets ≥ COP $6.5 billion or income ≥ COP $3.9 billion.
  
  

Functions: certifies financial statements, reviews internal controls, and ensures legal compliance.
Failure to appoint a statutory auditor may result in penalties and block procedures before the Chamber of Commerce or DIAN.

9. Beneficial Ownership Registry (RUB)

All companies and foreign branches must report to the DIAN their ultimate beneficial owners — natural persons holding more than 5% ownership or effective control.

• Deadline: within 2 months after incorporation.
  
  
• Update: within 30 days of any change.
  
  
• Fines: up to 100 UVT per day of delay (≈ COP $4.9 million/day in 2025).
  
  

10. Double Taxation and Foreign Assets

Colombia has double taxation treaties (DTTs) with countries such as Spain, Mexico, Chile, Portugal, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, South Korea, and Japan.
These treaties prevent paying tax twice on the same income.

If your home country has no DTT with Colombia (for example, the United States), you must analyze foreign tax credits and declare foreign assets if they exceed COP $94,130,000 (2,000 UVT) as of January 1, 2025.

Practical Recommendations for Foreign Companies

• Define your tax structure before starting operations.
  
  
• Register your investment with the Bank of the Republic if you bring capital from abroad.
  
  
• Keep your accounting books in Colombian pesos and under IFRS.
  
  
• Comply with electronic invoicing and payroll regulations.
  
  
• Review your double taxation treaties annually.
  
  
• Do not underestimate the RUB or the penalties for noncompliance.
  
  

Set Up Your Company in Colombia with Tax Certainty and No Penalties

Let’s talk today.
We help you:

• Understand the tax regime applicable to your foreign company.
  
  
• Register your investment properly with the Bank of the Republic and the DIAN.
  
  
• Comply with IFRS, tax, and labor obligations.
  
  
• Avoid penalties and optimize your tax burden from day one.
  
  

Start with a free diagnostic session and receive a custom accounting and tax roadmap tailored to your international business.

👉 Book your personalized consultation and operate in Colombia with confidence and full compliance.