How investments help lower the taxable base for income tax returns

With the DIAN tax calendar about to begin on August 12, Colombians who must file their income tax returns have more than just a simple procedure; they have an opportunity to plan their finances and invest wisely, taking advantage of the tax benefits available through specialized financial products.

Beyond fulfilling the obligation to report employment income, capital gains, non-employment income, pensions, or dividends, this tax return process allows you to define a financial management plan.

(Read: Tax benefits cost the country almost six tax reforms ).

According to Lucas Solano, VP of Wealth and Financial Planning at Credicorp Capital Colombia, "the key is to manage resources strategically and take advantage of available instruments, such as voluntary pension contributions or investments, which contribute to legally reducing the taxable base and strengthening long-term savings." In this way, this procedure becomes a tool to review the financial situation, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions. In this context, there are alternatives that allow you to structure your personal financial portfolio and, at the same time, obtain tax benefits for your income tax return, such as:

Collective investment funds (CIFs) and managed portfolios : These allow you to organize your investments to take advantage of benefits such as income planning and the exemptions that apply depending on the type of asset managed. Furthermore, with proper management of withdrawals and portfolio composition, it's possible to reduce the tax payable. To take advantage of these benefits efficiently, it's essential to have specialized advice and review the assets in which each fund invests.

Voluntary pension fund : This is one of the most efficient alternatives for reducing the amount payable on income tax returns, as there are benefits to contributing resources, but above all, there are benefits to retirement if the legal conditions are met. In practice, by allocating part of the income to a voluntary pension fund, such as Credicorp Capital's Voluntary Pension Fund, the amount on which the tax is calculated is lower, which generates tax savings and, at the same time, contributes to strengthening long-term savings.

Investing in the Colombian Stock Exchange (BVC) : This allows you to access tax benefits, as profits from their sale may be tax-exempt, provided they do not exceed 3% of the company's total outstanding shares during the year. It is not necessary to hold them for a minimum period to apply this benefit. Likewise, foreign stocks traded through the Colombian Global Market (MGC), including companies like Apple, Nvidia, or Tesla, as well as some ETFs (investment funds), may also enjoy tax benefits, since profits derived from their sale may be tax-exempt.

With the start of the tax calendar, taxpayers are urged to review their financial situation, identify opportunities to legally reduce their tax burden, and strategically structure their assets .

The firm stated that it supports its clients throughout this process, providing specialized advice so they can take advantage of available tax benefits, strengthen their savings and investments, and make decisions that allow them to build a solid financial future.

See also: Dian collected 149.15 billion pesos in taxes by June 2025