2026 tax rules

What will you keep when you sell your property in Colombia?

For foreigners selling a home, apartment or finca. See the Colombian tax, closing costs and the cash you walk away with in pesos and dollars, plus what the IRS will see if you're American.

The purchase

Example sale. Replace with yours.

Price you paid

COP

Date you bought

Improvements and purchase costs

COP

Documented renovations plus notary and registration costs you paid when buying. These raise your cost.

Exchange rate when you bought

COP/ $1

Used for the US calculation.

The sale

Sale price

COP

Can't be below the property's avalúo catastral.

Sale date

Real estate agent commission

Usually 3% in cities, up to 5% for rural property.

Exchange rate at sale

COP/ $1

Your situation

I'm a Colombian tax resident this yearMore than 183 days in Colombia in a 365-day window. Check with the 183-Day Counter. It's my home, and I'll put the money in an AFC account to buy another home or pay off its mortgageResidents only. Exempts up to 5,000 UVT (COP 261,870,000) of the gain. I'm a US citizen or green card holderShows the US capital gains side.

Your US long-term capital gains rate

Lived in it as your main home 2 of the last 5 years? The US home-sale exclusion applies to foreign homes too.

Before you sign at the notary

Own it 2 years or more. After 2 full years, the gain is taxed as ganancia ocasional at a flat 15%. Sell sooner and it's ordinary income, at up to 39% for residents and 35% for non-residents.
The notary takes 1% up front. Retención en la fuente of 1% of the sale price is withheld at signing and credited against your tax when you file. If your tax is lower, you can claim the difference.
Non-residents still file. You'll need a RUT, a representative in Colombia, and a Form 110 return for the year of the sale.
Getting dollars out. If you registered your purchase money with Banco de la República as foreign investment, you can send the proceeds abroad as a repatriation. If you didn't, talk to a lawyer before closing.
Exchange rates change the US answer. The IRS measures your gain in dollars. A stronger or weaker peso since you bought can make your US gain much bigger or smaller than your Colombian one.