Figures verified 7 October 2026 · Applies to: 2026 tax year
Colombia has a wealth tax (impuesto al patrimonio), and since Ley 2277 of 2022 it is permanent. On top of that, in 2026 a separate emergency wealth tax was created for companies. The two are regularly confused online, and foreign investors are often told they are exempt from both because they don’t live in Colombia. Neither is quite right.
The wealth tax on individuals
Individuals, Colombian or foreign, are liable if their net worth on 1 January of the year is 72,000 UVT or more. For 2026 that is COP 3,770,928,000, about USD 1.17 million at the 7 October 2026 exchange rate.
- Rates are progressive across bands: 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%. The top 1.5% rate is transitional through 2026 and then reverts to 1.0%.
- Filing: for 2026, individuals filed between 12 and 26 May, by the last digit of their NIT. Next year’s dates will be set by the DIAN’s deadline decree.
- Residents count their worldwide net worth: the house back home, the brokerage account and the pension pot all go in.
Non-residents are not exempt
This is the point foreign investors miss. Non-resident individuals are liable on Colombian assets they hold directly. A foreigner living abroad who owns a high-value Colombian apartment or a large Colombian investment portfolio in their own name can cross the 72,000 UVT line on Colombian assets alone.
How you hold the asset matters. Assets held directly by an individual are treated differently from assets held through a company. Before you buy something large in your own name, look at the structure.
The separate corporate emergency tax
In 2026, following the economic emergency declared after Congress rejected the government’s tax reform, a wealth tax on companies was created by Decreto Legislativo 173 of 24 February 2026 and Decreto 240 of 2026:
- It applies only to legal entities (personas jurídicas), not to individuals.
- The threshold is 200,000 UVT, with rates of 0.50% and 1.6%, filed on Formulario 425.
- The Constitutional Court narrowed it in C-191 of 2026. Auto A-533 of 2026 suspended the second instalment for non-profit entities and entities in liquidation.
If you read that “individuals now pay wealth tax above 200,000 UVT,” that is wrong. The 200,000 UVT figure belongs to the corporate emergency tax.
Two numbers you may see that are not law
- A 40,000 UVT table from a struck-down decree. Several tax blogs still publish a wealth-tax table with a 40,000 UVT threshold from a decree the Constitutional Court struck down. It is not in force.
- 40,000 UVT in the 2026 tax bill. The reform bill filed on 20 July 2026 (Proyecto de Ley 004 of 2026) proposes lowering the individual threshold to 40,000 UVT, with higher marginal rates. As of October 2026 it is a bill in Congress, not law. A new government took office on 7 August 2026, and the bill can change substantially. If it passes as filed, most measures would apply from 2027.
The two 40,000 UVT figures have different origins. One was struck down; the other is only proposed. Neither applies today.
Who should check their position
| Situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| Foreign resident in Colombia with significant assets at home | Worldwide net worth on 1 January against 72,000 UVT |
| Non-resident owning Colombian property or investments directly | Colombian assets on 1 January against 72,000 UVT |
| Foreign-owned Colombian company with large equity | The corporate emergency tax (200,000 UVT) and its current litigation status |
| Anyone planning a large Colombian purchase | Direct ownership versus a company, before signing |
How it connects to your other filings
Net worth for wealth-tax purposes overlaps with the assets reported on your income tax return and, for residents, the foreign assets declaration. Values must be consistent across all three. How foreign-currency assets are converted to pesos matters too; see which TRM to use. For all 2026 reference values in one place, see our 2026 rates and thresholds page.
This is an area under active litigation and legislative change. Confirm the position before you file or act.
Talk to us
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This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. Colombian tax law changed materially between December 2025 and September 2026, and some rules described here are subject to pending legislation or litigation. Confirm your situation with a professional before acting.