Colombia – Tax Reform with Measures Impacting Individuals
Colombia – Tax Reform with Measures Impacting Individua
This report describes recently-enacted Colombian tax reform measures that affect individuals.
SUBSCRIBE
To subscribe to GMS Flash Alert, fill out the subscription form.
Colombia’s government has enacted a significant, wide-ranging tax reform, affecting direct and indirect taxation and impacting individuals, corporations, and non-profits.
In this GMS Flash Alert we focus on the measures impacting individuals introduced by law 1943 of December 28, 2018 (known as “Financing Law”).1
WHY THIS MATTERS
Because of the changes to the income tax system and the reform of indirect taxation (which will affect cost of living), the overall tax burden may be increasing for many and, consequently, companies with international assignees who are subject to Colombian taxation may see a rise in their assignment-related costs.
In cases of assignments to Colombia where assignees are subject to Colombian taxation, and for assignees working outside Colombia but still subject to Colombian taxation, international assignment cost projections and budgeting should reflect the changes described in this newsletter. Where appropriate, adjustments to gross-up packages and withholding taxes may need to be considered.
Each individual’s tax status should be determined in light of his or her particular situation
Basket System of Taxation
The taxable base is allocated across three baskets starting with fiscal year 2019 (previously, this was five baskets).
a) General basket (labor, interest/rental income, and non-labor income)
b) Pension basket
c) Dividends basket.
Severance Payments
Severance payments will be considered income to individuals:
- at the moment of the payment by the employer; or
- when the payment is made to the severance fund.
Severance payments will be exempt income based on individual limits (section 206 Tax Code) and global limits of the general basket.
Voluntary Contributions to Mandatory Pension Funds
Contributions to mandatory pension funds are still deemed as exempt income capped to 30% of labor or tax income (and to 3,800 UVT2 – 2019: COP 130,226,000), and also to the global limit of the general basket (40% of net income not to exceed 5,040 UVT – 2019: COP 172,720,800).
New Tax Rates
Updated tax rates apply for tax resident individuals, along with increased taxable base ranges, and changed tax rates up to 39% (previously the highest tax rate was 33%).
| Brackets UVT* | Tax Rate | Tax Calculation | |
| From | To | ||
| >0 | 1.090 | 0% | 0 |
| >1.090 | 1.700 | 19% | (Taxable Base in UVT minus 1.090 UVT) x 19% |
| >1.700 | 4.100 | 28% | (Taxable Base in UVT minus 1.700 UVT) x 28% + 116 UVT |
| >4.100 | 8.670 | 33% | (Taxable Base in UVT minus 4.100 UVT) x 33% + 788 UVT |
| >8.670 | 18.970 | 35% | (Taxable Base in UVT minus 8.670 UVT) x 35% + 2296 UVT |
| >18.970 | 31.000 | 37% | (Taxable Base in UVT minus 18.970 UVT) x 37% + 5901 UVT |
| >31.000 | onwards | 39% | (Taxable Base in UVT minus 31.000 UVT) x 39% + 10.352 UVT |
*For FY19, each UVT (Tax Value Unit for its acronym in Spanish) is equal to COP 34.270
Dividends
Dividends distributed as non-taxable income (already paid taxes at the corporate level) received by shareholders now will be taxed starting from 300 UVT (2019: COP 10,281,000) at a marginal rate of 15% for tax residents and 7.5% for nonresidents. Additionally, for dividends that correspond to profits that if distributed would be taxed to a Colombian company, the tax rate will be 33% (2019), 32% (2020), 31% (2021), and 30% (from 2022).
Life Insurance
Indemnities received for life insurance will be considered as a capital gain, if the amount received exceeds 12,500 UVT (2019: COP 428,375,000). The applicable tax rate is 10%.
Presumptive Income
A taxpayer’s presumptive income must be compared against the general basket tax base. A tax rate of 1.5% will apply during fiscal years 2019 and 2020, and 0% from fiscal 2021.
Wealth Tax Return
The wealth tax return will be in force for 2019, 2020, and 2021 fiscal years, and applies to:
- individuals considered as tax residents, or
- nonresidents with assets in Colombia.
The taxable event occurs if the taxpayer’s net equity is equal to or exceeds COP 5,000 million (approximately USD 1.5 million), at January 1, 2019. The tax rate will be 1% for each taxable year.
Taxable base: A taxpayer is allowed to exclude the value of his or her household up to 13,500 UVT (2019: COP 462,645,000). The taxpayer is not allowed to exclude any investments in shares.
Normalization Tax
Individuals will be liable for the “normalization tax” if they have “non-real” liabilities and missing (or undeclared) assets as of January 1, 2019. The deadline to file returns is September 25, 2019.
The tax rate will be 13%. If a taxpayer normalizes assets abroad and invests such funds in Colombia, with the intention to be “permanent” (realized before December 31, 2019, and remain a minimum two years) the taxable base will be 50% of undeclared assets.
National Consumption Tax on Sale of Real Estate
Sales of real estate that exceed 26,800 UVT (2019: COP 918,436,000 – USD 290,000) will be subject to filing. The taxpayer must pay the national consumption tax rate of 2% on the sales amount.
Withholding Tax on Payments to Nonresidents
The withholding tax rate has been increased from 15% to 20% and applies to payments to nonresidents, for example, for labor or personal services.
FOOTNOTES
1See the new law (Ley 1943 del 28 de diciembre de 2018, Ley de financiamiento (PDF 912 KB)), (in Spanish).
2UVT (Tax Value Unit for its acronym in Spanish) equals to COP 34,270, for FY19.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Colombia.
© 2023 KPMG Impuestos y Servicios Legales Ltda, a Colombian limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”) is a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm.
GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.