The five tax errors that expose Colombian companies to litigation with the DIAN

If the DIAN detects that these liabilities have no real backing, the company faces a pecuniary sanction and, additionally, is exposed to criminal action. Photo: AI Generated

The five tax errors that expose Colombian companies to litigation with the DIAN

TL;DR

  • Not paying Value Added Tax (VAT) on time is the most frequent error, as companies act as collectors for the state, not owners of the funds.
  • Omitting assets (properties, bank accounts, investments) in the income tax return can trigger tax sanctions and criminal action.
  • Declaring non-existent liabilities to justify declared net worth can lead to financial penalties and criminal prosecution.
  • Tax evasion through the non-issuance of invoices prevents income reporting and corresponding tax payments, potentially leading to business closure.
  • Participating in 'invoice carousel' schemes, using fictitious invoices or costs from suppliers, exposes companies to tax audits, corrections, and serious related crimes like fraud and money laundering.