Sign up for tax alert emails    GTNU homepage    Tax newsroom    Email document    Print document    Download document

December 9, 2022
2022-6193

Colombia’s Tax Reform includes key provisions on individual taxation

  • Colombia’s Congress approved the tax reform bill on 17 November 2022.

  • The reform, to be signed by the President and published in the Official Gazette for entry into force, contains several provisions with respect to individual taxation.

  • The key provisions, summarized in this Alert, cover individual taxation, equity tax, and capital gains.

Executive summary

On 17 November 2022, the Colombian Congress approved the tax reform bill submitted by the Colombian Government. The bill is expected to be signed by the Colombian President and then published in the Official Gazette to enter into force.

This Alert highlights the most relevant topics applicable to individual taxation (See EY Global Tax Alert, Colombian Congress approves tax reform bill, dated 22 November 2022 for details on the complete tax reform).

Detailed discussion

Individual taxation

  • Labor, capital, non-labor income, pensions and dividends would be combined and subject to the ordinary income progressive rates ranging from 0% to 39%. However, a 19% tax credit on the value of the dividends would be granted (thus the dividends themselves would be subject to a tax rate of up to 20% for residents).

Dividend withholding tax will be up to 15% (currently 10%) in the case of dividend distributions higher than 1,090 tax units (US$9,300).

Dividends paid to nonresident individuals out of profits subject to taxation at the corporate level will be subject to a 20% withholding tax rate (currently 10%).

  • The tax reform reduces the annual cap for claiming 25% of labor income as tax exempt from 2,880 tax units (approx. US$24,500) to 790 tax units (approx. US$6,700).
  • The 40% limit for tax-exempt income and deductions related to income in the general basket will be reduced from 5,040 tax units (approx. US$43,000) to 1,340 tax units (approx. US$11,400).
  • The bill includes the possibility of claiming a deduction for up to four dependents, (72 tax units – approx. US$610 - for each).
  • Under several conditions, up to 1% of all kinds of payments made by individuals for the acquisition of goods or services may be taken as a deduction in the general basket (capped to 240 tax units – approx. US$2,000) to the extent they are supported in electronic invoices.
  • The annual tax-exempt income limit for pensioners will be kept at 12,000 tax units (approx. US$102,000). The same benefits would apply for foreign pensions received by Colombian tax residents.

Equity tax

  • The bill establishes a permanent equity tax which will be levied on 1 January of each year.
  • Colombian resident individuals will be subject to equity tax over their worldwide net worth. Nonresident individuals would be taxed only on their Colombian assets. The tax is also applicable to intestate successions (resident and nonresident).
  • For this tax to apply, the net equity of the taxpayer must be at least of 72,000 tax units (approximately US$611,000) as of 1 January of each year. The equity tax rates would range from 0.5% to 1.5%. The 1.5% will apply until 2026. As from 2027, the highest tax rate will be 1%.
  • To determine the taxable base of the equity tax, the exclusion of the first 12,000 tax units (approximately US$102,000) of the taxpayer's home is allowed.
  • For purposes of calculating taxable equity, shares of Colombian companies that are not listed on the Colombian Stock Exchange or on a recognized international stock market, will be reported for the lower value between the intrinsic value and the taxable basis determined considering the consumer price index (IPC per its acronym in Spanish) from the acquisition date of the shares.
  • Shares listed on the Colombian Stock Exchange or on a recognized international stock market will be reported at the average market value of the year immediately prior to the tax accrual date.

Capital gains

  • The tax rate of capital gains for individuals (tax residents and nonresidents) will increase to 15% (currently 10%). Capital gains from lotteries, bets, raffles and similar, will remain at 20%.
  • Compensation for life insurance will be taxed on the amount that exceeds 3,250 tax units (approx. US$27,500). Currently, the capital gains tax applies to the excess of 12,500 tax units (US$106,000).
  • The thresholds for the following exempt capital gains applicable to inheritances, are modified as follows:
    • Value of the urban housing property owned by the deceased: increased from 7,700 tax units (approx. US$65,000) to 13,000 tax units (approx. US$110,000).
    • Value of the rural housing property owned by the deceased: reduced from 7,700 tax units (approx. US$65,000) to 6,500 tax units (approx. US$55,000).
    • Value of other inheritance assets received by each of the heirs: reduced from 3,490 tax units (approx. US$29,600) to 3,250 tax units (approx. US$27,500).
    • Assets and rights received by individuals other than the heirs by way of inheritance, and assets and rights received as gifts (donations): reduced from a maximum of 2,290 tax units (approx. US$19,400) to a maximum of 1,625 tax units (approx. US$13,800).
  • The exempt capital gain arising from the sale of a house is reduced from 7,500 tax units (approx. US$63,600) to 5,000 tax units (approx. US$42,400). The requirement to reinvest the resources from the sale into the purchase of another house remains.

Annual report of assets owned abroad

Every resident with assets owned abroad shall file this report (previously a cap of assets held abroad applied).

_________________________________________

For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following:

Ernst & Young S.A.S., Bogota

 
 

The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, accounting or tax advice or opinion provided by Ernst & Young LLP to the reader. The reader also is cautioned that this material may not be applicable to, or suitable for, the reader's specific circumstances or needs, and may require consideration of non-tax and other tax factors if any action is to be contemplated. The reader should contact his or her Ernst & Young LLP or other tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information. Ernst & Young LLP assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any changes in tax laws or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.

 

Copyright © 2024, Ernst & Young LLP.

 

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, retransmitted or otherwise redistributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including by photocopying, facsimile transmission, recording, rekeying, or using any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from Ernst & Young LLP.

 

Any U.S. tax advice contained herein was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provisions.

 

"EY" refers to the global organisation, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.

 

Privacy  |  Cookies  |  BCR  |  Legal  |  Global Code of Conduct Opt out of all email from EY Global Limited.

 


Cookie Settings

This site uses cookies to provide you with a personalized browsing experience and allows us to understand more about you. More information on the cookies we use can be found here. By clicking 'Yes, I accept' you agree and consent to our use of cookies. More information on what these cookies are and how we use them, including how you can manage them, is outlined in our Privacy Notice. Please note that your decision to decline the use of cookies is limited to this site only, and not in relation to other EY sites or ey.com. Please refer to the privacy notice/policy on these sites for more information.


Yes, I accept         Find out more