Decision 3 · Week 3 · Wed Nov 18 · Country spotlight: Colombia
Do I pay taxes in Colombia if I retire there?
SHORT ANSWERIf you spend more than 183 days in Colombia within any 365-day period, Colombia treats you as a tax resident. You still file US taxes too, because the US taxes citizens wherever they live.
The US and Colombia have no income tax treaty. The US Foreign Tax Credit can reduce US tax on income that Colombia also taxes.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion does not help with Social Security or pensions. It covers only earned income such as wages.
A preparer who handles both countries can explain your filings before your first full year as a resident.
Week 3 counts taxes in the total value of each place.
Sources
- Estatuto Tributario, Artículo 10 (residencia fiscal) · Estatuto Tributario de Colombia
- United States income tax treaties, A to Z · IRS
- Foreign tax credit · IRS
- Foreign earned income exclusion: What is foreign earned income? · IRS
Written and reviewed by Todd Allyn, Founding Director, Sovereo Intelligence
Facts checked Oct 6, 2026 · Next review by Apr 6, 2027
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