Colombia property buying costs: every one-off fee, and the two taxes that are gone.
// Short answer
Buying in Colombia costs the departmental registration tax of 0.5% to 1%, notary fees with IVA on top, registry fees, and a title certificate at COP 23,000 electronic. Two taxes older guides still list no longer apply: VAT on new homes was repealed, and the 2% consumption tax on sales was struck down. Here is each cost, as of September 2026.
Rules and rates as of September 2026. Colombian tax law was amended by emergency decree in 2026 and the minimum wage behind the visa threshold is under a transitional decree, so check the dated items again before you sign. Every figure links to its source.
On this page
What are the one-off costs of buying property in Colombia?
The departmental registration tax at 0.5% to 1% of the deed's value, notary fees with IVA, registry fees, and the title certificate. The notary and registry percentages could not be confirmed from the 2026 tariff texts, so ask for a written figure. Figures as of September 2026.
| Cost | Rate or amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration tax (impuesto de registro, departmental) | 0.5% to 1% of the deed's value, set by each department | Statute |
| Notary fees (derechos notariales) | 2026 tariff in force from February 2026, plus IVA | Percentage not confirmed |
| Registry fees (derechos de registro) | 2026 tariff in force from 2 February 2026 | Percentage not confirmed |
| Certificado de Tradición y Libertad | COP 23,000 electronic, COP 24,300 physical | SNR 2026 fee |
| VAT on new homes | None | Repealed |
| 2% consumption tax on property sales | None | Struck down |
Sources
- Ley 223 de 1995, Art. 230, as modified by Ley 2069 de 2020 (registration tax)
- Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro: 2026 notary tariffs in force (February 2026)
- Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro: 2026 registry tariffs (February 2026)
- Estatuto Tributario, Art. 468-1 with vigencia notes (VAT on new homes)
- Estatuto Tributario, Art. 512-22 with vigencia notes (consumption tax on property)
How much is registration tax on a Colombian property purchase?
Between 0.5% and 1% of the value of the deed. Ley 223 de 1995, as modified by Ley 2069 de 2020, sets that range for acts with a value registered at the ORIP, and each departmental assembly sets its own rate within it. The rate in a specific city was not verified for this page.
Ask the notary which rate applies in the department where the property sits before you sign. How the deed reaches the registry: the certificado de tradición y libertad, explained.
How much are notary and registry fees in Colombia?
Both are set by national tariff. The 2026 notary tariff took effect in February 2026, with the increase capped at 2025 inflation of 5.10%, and IVA is charged on top of notary fees. The 2026 registry tariff took effect on 2 February 2026. The percentages themselves could not be confirmed for this page.
Secondary sources quote different notary percentages on different bases, and none could be checked against the 2026 resolution text. Ask the notary for a written liquidation of fees and taxes before the signing date.
Sources
Is there VAT or a sales tax on buying a home in Colombia?
No, as of September 2026. The 5% VAT on the first sale of new homes above 26,800 UVT was repealed by Ley 1943 de 2018 and again by Ley 2010 de 2019. The 2% consumption tax on property sales above 26,800 UVT was struck down by the Constitutional Court in December 2019.
For scale, 26,800 UVT is COP 1,403,623,200 in 2026. Older guides that still list either tax are out of date. The taxes that do apply after the purchase: Colombia property tax for foreigners.
Sources
Which costs fall on the seller in Colombia?
The seller's 1% withholding on the sale value, where the seller is an individual selling a fixed asset, paid before the notary executes the transfer. The agent's commission is not a seller's cost by law: unless the contract says otherwise, buyer and seller pay it in equal parts (Commercial Code article 1341), plus IVA at 19%.
Some guides say the seller pays 3% to 4%; that is a market custom, not the legal default, so agree the split in writing. Whether the 1% withholding applies to a non-resident seller was not confirmed. The money side of the purchase: transferring money to Colombia for a property. Agent fees in full: Colombia real estate agent fees.
Sources
// Buying in Colombia?
Every listing in your budget, ranked on real rent evidence, running costs, price history and resale. Any city, any country where property is for sale. Delivered in 5 days.
See the $99 report, page by pageWho pays the closing costs in Colombia, buyer or seller?
Split by default. The Civil Code divides the deed costs between buyer and seller, and the registration tax is paid in equal parts unless the parties say otherwise. The seller pays the 1% withholding at the notary; the registry fees are charged to whoever applies, normally the buyer.
| Cost | Rate | Who pays | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withholding tax (retencion en la fuente) | 1% of the sale value | Seller | Law (Estatuto Tributario art. 398) |
| Registration tax (departmental) | 0.5% to 1%, by department | Split equally unless agreed otherwise | Law (Ley 223 de 1995) |
| Notary fees | Official schedule | Split equally unless agreed otherwise | Law (Civil Code art. 1862) |
| Registry fees | Official schedule | The applicant (normally the buyer) | Law (SNR resolution 2026) |
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the registration tax rate in Colombia?
Is there VAT on buying a new apartment in Colombia?
Is there a 2% tax on property sales in Colombia?
Do notary fees in Colombia include IVA?
How much does the title certificate cost?
Header photo: User: (WT-shared) CONOCER at wts wikivoyage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.