Double Taxation Treaties Colombia: how to use them if you have income in multiple countries (2026)

If you are a foreigner living in Colombia and you continue receiving income from your home country (remote salary, dividends, rental income, pension, interest), one question comes up very quickly: will I be taxed twice?

The good news: Colombia has double taxation treaties with several countries that help you avoid (or reduce) double taxation and provide clear rules on where taxes are paid and how taxes already paid abroad can be credited. 

In this 2026 guide, I explain how they work, which countries have an active treaty with Colombia, what they cover, and what you need to do to apply them correctly (without complications, but covering what really matters).

What is a double taxation treaty and why does it matter to you?

A double taxation treaty (also called a tax treaty to avoid double taxation) is an agreement between Colombia and another country so that the same income does not end up paying full tax twice: once in the source country and again in Colombia (or vice versa). 

In real life, these treaties serve three very practical purposes:

• Reduce withholding taxes at source (for example, on dividends or interest).

   

• Define who taxes first (the source country or the country of residence).

   

• Allow tax credits (offsetting in Colombia the tax already paid abroad, when applicable).

   

Important: a treaty does not mean “zero taxes.” It means no double taxation and clearer rules.

Countries with active tax treaties with Colombia in 2026

According to the DIAN, Colombia has active income tax treaties with the following countries, in addition to multilateral agreements such as the Andean Community (CAN) and the Pacific Alliance agreement for pension funds: 

Active treaties (income tax):

• Spain (effective since 23/10/2008) 

   

• Chile (22/12/2009) 

   

• Switzerland (01/01/2012) 

   

• Canada (12/06/2012) 

   

• Mexico (11/07/2013) 

   

• Korea (03/07/2014) 

   

• India (07/07/2014) 

   

• Portugal (30/01/2015) 

   

• Czech Republic (06/05/2015) 

   

• United Kingdom (13/12/2019) 

   

• Italy (07/10/2021) 

   

• France (01/01/2022) 

   

• Japan (04/09/2022) 

   

Relevant multilateral agreements:

• Andean Community (CAN) (effective since 01/01/2005). 

   

• Pacific Alliance – pension funds (effective since 02/07/2023). 

   

What types of income are covered and what benefits can you obtain?

Although each treaty has its own details, almost all of them cover what matters most to individuals:

Typical types of income

• Salaries / professional services (dependent or independent work)

   

• Dividends

   

• Interest

   

• Royalties

   

• Capital gains (sale of assets, depending on the case)

   

• Pensions (depending on the treaty and the type of pension)

   

Typical benefits

• Reduced withholding tax on payments from Colombia to your country (or from your country to Colombia).

   

• Avoiding double taxation: if you paid tax in the source country, Colombia allows recognition according to the treaty rules and/or through tax credits, if applicable.

   

• Residency tie-breaker rules: the treaty helps resolve cases where “two countries claim you as a tax resident.”

   

How to actually “use” a treaty in practice

This is where many people fail: the treaty exists, but if you don’t apply it correctly, you can still end up over-withheld.

1) Confirm your tax residency (the starting point)

For almost any benefit, you must be clear about whether you are a tax resident in Colombia. If you live here most of the year, you most likely are.

2) Obtain a tax residency certificate (when applicable)

In many cases, to apply a reduced withholding or benefit, you need to prove tax residency and the taxes filed in the other country (whichever applies) to the payer or as support before the authority.

3) Document what you paid abroad (to avoid paying twice)

If you pay tax abroad on certain income, don’t leave it undocumented. You need supporting documents (certificates, statements, tax returns) to justify the correct treatment in Colombia.

4) Don’t mix this with “internet tips”

Treaties have specific articles for each type of income. A common mistake is thinking “everything is exempt.” No: the treaty applies by type of income and under specific conditions.

Practical 2026 example: Spanish citizen living in Colombia with income in Spain

Imagine this scenario:

• You are Spanish, live in Medellín, and become a tax resident in Colombia.

   

• You have:

   

  • Salary income in Colombia (local employment or services rendered here).

     

  • Dividends from a company in Spain.

     

What changes under the Colombia–Spain treaty?

The treaty helps ensure that you do not pay full tax twice on those dividends and provides clarity between both countries. Colombia, as the country of residence, will normally require you to report your income, but the treaty defines limits and coordination to avoid duplication. 

In practice, the key is to get proper advice to:

• verify withholding in Spain (if applicable), and

   

• correctly structure the treatment in Colombia so you don’t end up paying twice due to poor planning (which happens very often).

   

This is exactly the type of case where a treaty actually saves you money — but more importantly, saves you from costly mistakes.

Quick note: if your country is the United States, this article is still useful to understand the concept, but currently there is no income tax treaty in force between Colombia and the U.S., which means you must rely more heavily on tax credits and planning. 

Common mistakes we see among foreigners (and that are expensive)

• Believing that “since I pay tax in my country, I don’t have to file in Colombia.”

   

• Not identifying on time that you are already a Colombian tax resident.

   

• Allowing high withholdings when you could apply treaty benefits (due to lack of documentation).

   

• Not coordinating your Colombian accountant/advisor with the one in your home country.

   

FAQs

Does a treaty mean I don’t pay taxes in Colombia?
No. It means you don’t pay the same income twice and that some withholdings may be lower, depending on the type of income and the applicable treaty.

What if my country does not have a treaty with Colombia?
You can still avoid double taxation using domestic mechanisms (such as foreign tax credits), but it usually requires more planning and documentation.

Where can I check the treaties in force?
On the official DIAN list of International Tax Treaties. 

If you are living in Colombia and have income in another country, a treaty can help you a lot — but the real benefit appears when it is applied correctly: clear tax residency, proper documentation, and a coherent strategy so you don’t end up overpaying due to disorganization; at Nexo Legal, we help you review your case, confirm whether you can use an active treaty, and give you a concrete roadmap to comply with the DIAN without duplication or surprises — contact us and we’ll review it with you.