Key Taxes in Colombia Obligations for Companies (2026)

In 2026, Colombian companies must strictly comply with their national and local tax obligations. 

Below is a summary of the main taxes in Colombia, key dates, new regulations, and additional obligations that business owners, managers, and accountants must be aware of:

Mandatory national taxes in Colombia (2026)

• Income Tax: Companies (legal entities) must file and pay income tax for tax year 2025 (filed in 2026).

Large taxpayers pay in three installments (02/2026, 04/2026, 06/2026), while other corporations pay in two installments (May and July 2026).
The final tax return for individuals begins in August and ends in October (based on the last digit of the NIT).

• Value Added Tax (VAT) and Consumption Taxes: The general rate is 19%. Companies responsible for VAT (sales, special consumption taxes) must file VAT returns bimonthly or quarterly, depending on their tax regime.
  For example, VAT for Jan–Feb 2026 is filed in March, and so on. Companies must issue electronic invoices for every sale or service (see below).
• Withholding Tax: Applied to payments such as salaries, professional fees, leases, services, acquisition of goods, among others, and must be reported monthly (by the month following the payment or accrual). Each withholding agent reports based on the last digit of its NIT.
• Income Self-Withholding Agent: Some companies may be required to self-withhold income tax when they meet certain requirements (prior gross income exceeding 130,000 UVT, more than 50 clients who withhold from them, among others).

The self-withholding agent applies the withholding percentage to itself and pays it monthly as an advance payment of income tax. Additionally, taxpayers who are exempt from making contributions to the social security system must also apply withholding on their income.

This withholding does not constitute an additional payment, but rather is considered an advance payment of income tax, which is credited when filing the annual tax return.

• Other National Taxes: Although the 2024–2025 tax reform bill was struck down, the Government declared an economic emergency (Decree 1474 of 2025) with extraordinary measures for 2026.

For example, it reintroduces a wealth tax for 2026 (threshold 40,000 UVT—approximately COP 2.1 trillion—with progressive rates up to 5% on very large fortunes), and modifies special VAT/consumption taxes in Colombia (e.g., 19% VAT on liquors and online gambling, new taxes in Colombia on the financial sector, etc.). 

These measures may be challenged, but in any case they constitute the current regulatory framework for 2026.

Key dates for taxes in Colombia in 2026

Additional obligations

• Electronic Invoicing: It is already mandatory for all companies and for independent workers who meet the thresholds. 

According to the Tax Statute and the DIAN, all natural or legal persons who are merchants, responsible for VAT, consumption tax, SIMPLE regime, government contractors, customs users, etc., and who perform taxable transactions, must issue electronic invoices (or equivalent digital documents).

To issue electronic invoices, a valid digital signature and registration in the DIAN online services are required. Failure to issue electronic invoices or issuing them late may result in penalties and loss of tax deductions.

• Electronic Payroll: Any company or contractor with employees that files income tax returns must report employee payroll electronically to the DIAN.

It is submitted monthly, for the previous month, within the first 10 business days of the following month.
For example, the December 2025 payroll must be submitted before January 16, 2026. 

Failure to comply with the electronic payroll calendar has serious consequences: the DIAN may impose fines (for payroll not submitted or submitted late) and surcharges, deny payroll expense deductions in the income tax return, and negatively affect the company’s tax compliance rating.

• Single Registry of Final Beneficiaries (RUB): All legal entities, NGOs, and obligated entities must register their final beneficiaries in the DIAN’s RUB system.
  

The initial deadline expired on July 31, 2023 for companies incorporated before June 1, 2023. From then on, any relevant change (e.g., new partners or changes in ownership percentages) must be reported quarterly: on the first day of January, April, July, and October, entities must verify whether changes occurred, and if so, update them within the following month. 

Non-compliance may result in serious penalties and administrative blocks.

Local taxes in Colombia obligations (Medellín and Metropolitan Area)

In Medellín and municipalities of the Metropolitan Area (Bello, Envigado, Itagüí, Sabaneta, La Estrella), companies are subject to local taxes:

• ICA / Industry and Commerce Tax: Companies with activity in Medellín must pay the district Industry and Commerce Tax (ICA, which includes industrial, commercial, and service activities). 

Deadlines vary depending on where income is generated. Under the simplified regime (small companies), there is no annual return, but ICA is paid bimonthly through billing forms. The 2026 bimonthly deadlines depend on where income is generated.

• ICA Withholding: If the company performs activities subject to ICA withholding or is an ICA self-withholding agent, it must file bimonthly returns. Deadlines vary depending on where income is generated.
• Firefighter Surcharge: In Medellín, there is an additional 1% surcharge on the ICA amount (Municipal Agreement 069/2022), intended to fund the local fire department. It is calculated and paid together with the ICA, applying 1% to the ICA taxable base.
• Unified Property Tax: If the company owns real estate in Medellín, property tax is paid in four quarterly installments, without surcharge, between February, April, August, and December (staggered dates by zones).
• Vehicle Tax: One annual payment due by April 30, 2026 (general deadline) for vehicles registered in Medellín.
• Other Local Taxes: The gasoline surcharge (intended for transportation and environmental purposes) is filed monthly within the first 18 days of the following month. Outdoor advertising tax has monthly deadlines (usually around the 20th–22nd of the following month).

There are also municipal stamp taxes in Colombia (culture, innovation, Procultura, etc.) with specific monthly deadlines. It is essential to review each local tax based on the company’s activity and municipality.

Updated Reference Figures

• UVT 2026: The DIAN set the Tax Value Unit (UVT) at COP $52,374 for 2026 (an increase of approximately 5.17% compared to 2025). 

The UVT is used to determine thresholds and penalties. For example, the general minimum penalty is 10 UVT (≈ COP $523,740), and the limit for deductible cash transactions per invoice is 100 UVT (≈ COP $5,237,000).

• Minimum Wage 2026: The legal monthly minimum wage (SMMLV) was set at COP $1,750,905, with a transportation allowance of COP $249,095, for a total of COP $2,000,000 per month. (These values are effective as of January 1, 2026, for wages, benefits, and social security bases).

To ensure proper compliance with these taxes in Colombia obligations and optimize your company’s tax burden, contact Nexo Legal. 

Our team of tax advisors specialized in Colombia can assist you with personalized advice, tax planning, and representation before authorities. 

Do not leave your company’s tax management to chance! Contact us for professional guidance and tax peace of mind.