2025 Colombian tax filing season

The 2025 Colombian tax filing season is upon us and the dates are approaching for individual persons to begin filing their income tax return with the Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN – National Tax and Customs Directorate).

The tax calendar indicates that the first deadline for taxpayers in the country to file and make the corresponding payments (if any) for the tax filing period for year 2024, is August 12, 2025.

To avoid being caught off guard by this payment, consider some aspects that could help you fulfill this obligation.

Who should file a tax return?

Disclaimer: Discover Barranquilla S.A.S. takes no responsibility for the incorrect or late filing of tax returns. We recommend you seek the advice of a tax professional.

In order to determine if someone needs to file a tax return or not, some factors such as income, assets, purchases, salaries, and transfers from the previous year must be taken into account. DIAN establishes annual thresholds to determine who must fulfill this obligation.

You should speak with an accountant to see if you are required to file your taxes or not. The deadline to file your taxes depends on the last two digits of your cédula de ciudadanía if you’re Colombian. If you have a cedula de extranjería, it depends on the last two numbers of your NIT found in box 5 of your RUT. If you do not have a RUT (Registro Único Tributario), please speak with your accountant as soon as possible. You cannot file your 2024 tax return without this document. Filing late will result in a penalty of almost $500,000 COP.

Do I have to file a tax return if I receive a foreign pension?

Taxpayers who receive a pension abroad can declare it as exempt income under the terms of section 5 of Article 206 of the tax statute. Tax Reform Law 2277 of 2022. Under this legislation, the government treats Colombian-source and foreign-source pensions equally. As per the Colombian government, the monthly tax-free amount equals approximately $11,000 USD. That means that if your foreign pension is less than ~$11,000 USD per month, then as per current legislation it is considered tax-free. To read more about foreign pensions, please read our article: Is an Expat’s foreign pension taxable in Colombia?

Which DIAN forms do I have to file?

At a minimum your accountant should be filing DIAN form 210 which is the tax form filed for all natural persons. If you have assets abroad, then your accountant should also suggest that you file form 160 which is the “Annual Foreign Asset Declaration”.  If you have assets abroad, they should be listed on this form. This can include things like real property, boats, cars, etc.

Question 1: Are You a Tax Resident?

You are considered a tax resident if you have been in Colombia more than 183 days over a 365-day period. Keep in mind that this is NOT a calendar year analysis. You have to literally count the days you have been in Colombia over any 12-month period. If yes, you are technically a tax resident.

Question 2: I Am a Tax Resident. Do I Have to File?

In general, you have to file if:

The value of your total assets exceeds COP $211,792,500 (this includes the value of your real estate, vehicles, etc); OR
Total annual income exceeds COP $65,891,000; OR
Total purchases via a credit card exceed COP $65,891,000; OR
Total purchases via any other method exceed COP $65,891,000; OR
Total banking activity (deposits, transfers, etc…)/financial investments exceed COP $65,891,000. This includes transfers to yourself from abroad.

What is the penalty for not filing or filing my income tax late?

Minimum penalty: In 2025, the minimum penalty for non-compliance or incorrect compliance with tax obligations is $498,000 COP. This means that if the taxpayer files one day after the established deadline, they will have to pay this amount, even if the taxpayer is not liable to pay any income tax.

Penalty for lateness: There is also a penalty for lateness, which amounts to 5% of the tax payable and increases for each month or fraction of a month that passes between the payment due date and the date the income tax return is filed.

When is the deadline to file?

The deadlines for filing your income tax return for the 2025 Colombian tax filing season is determined based on the last two digits of your cédula de ciudadanía (if you are a Colombian citizen) or tax identification number (NIT) if you are a foreigner, which is assigned by the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN) to identify taxpayers.

The established deadlines to fulfill this obligation start on August 12 and end on October 24, 2025.

The deadline is based on the last two digits of your NIT:

August deadlines

September deadlines

October deadlines

Did you file a tax return in 2024? You’ll notice that the minimum taxable amounts have risen and will rise every tax year.

Good luck with the 2025 Colombian tax filing season!