Refund of favorable balances in income tax for individuals is possible, according to an expert

Portafolio Journalist 02.27.2026 09:56 Updated: 02.27.2026 09:56

Refund of favorable balances in income tax for individuals is possible, according to an expert

TL;DR

  • A favorable balance in income tax occurs when more tax is paid than owed, resulting in a credit from the DIAN.
  • The Tax Statute (Articles 850, 855, 857) regulates the right to request, the timelines for, and the potential rejection of favorable balance refunds.
  • Individuals can claim refunds, provided their declarations are correctly calculated and supported.
  • The deadline to request a refund is two years from the declaration's due date or presentation date.
  • Required documents include a bank certificate and validated withholding tax information; additional documentation may be requested by the DIAN.
  • Favorable balances can either be requested as a refund or carried over to the next year's tax return.
  • Refund processing times vary: 15 days for automatic refunds, 20 days with a guarantee, and 50 days for the normal procedure.
  • Common errors include missing deadlines, discrepancies in withholding tax data, outdated bank certificates, and incorrect calculations of sanctions or carried-over balances.
  • While not common, requesting a refund can increase the DIAN's scrutiny, potentially leading to a review.
  • Refunds are recommended when the balance cannot be carried over, when the next year's tax liability is low, or for long-standing carried-over balances.