Closing costs and taxes when buying or selling property in Colombia
By the Grupo Brik team · Last reviewed
Pending expert review
This guide was drafted from the official sources listed at the end and checked against them on 30 September 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a Colombian lawyer or accountant, so treat it as general information, not legal or tax advice.
The short answer
Closing costs on a Medellín property add up to about 2.3–2.8% of the price for buyer and seller together, depending on the value: notary fees of 0.3% plus VAT, Antioquia's 1% registration tax and registry fees of up to about 1.36%. The seller also has 1% of the price withheld at the notary as an advance on income tax, and pays 15% capital-gains tax on the profit if the property was held for two years or more. Properties above 20,000 UVT also pay a stamp tax.
Closing costs at a glance (2026)
| Cost | Rate | Who pays | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notary fees | 0.3% of the value, plus 19% VAT on the fee | Buyer and seller equally, unless agreed otherwise | SNR notary tariff 2026; Código Civil art. 1862 |
| Registration tax (impuesto de registro) | 1% of the value | Buyer and seller equally, unless agreed otherwise | Ordenanza 48 de 2025 (Antioquia) |
| Estampilla Pro-Desarrollo | 0.05% of the value | Settled with the registration tax | Ordenanza 48 de 2025 (Antioquia) |
| Registry fees (derechos de registro) | 0.911% to 1.333% by value band, plus 2% of the fee | Whoever files the deed for registration | SNR registry tariff 2026 |
| Withholding (retención en la fuente) | 1% of the sale price | Seller, as an advance on income tax | Estatuto Tributario art. 398 |
| Stamp tax (timbre), only above 20,000 UVT | 1.5% or 3% of the part above the threshold | Ask the notary how it is settled | Estatuto Tributario art. 519 |
Notary and registry fees are calculated on the higher of the agreed price and the property's cadastral value, and the registration tax cannot be based on less than the cadastral value either.[1],[3],[4]
Worked example in COP and USD
| Item | Rate | Amount (COP) | Amount (USD) | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notary fees (derechos notariales) | 0.3% + 19% VAT on the fee | COP 2,856,000 | USD 855 | Buyer and seller in equal shares unless agreed otherwise |
| Registration tax, Antioquia (impuesto de registro) | 1% | COP 8,000,000 | USD 2,394 | Buyer and seller in equal shares unless agreed otherwise |
| Estampilla Pro-Desarrollo, Antioquia | 0.05% | COP 400,000 | USD 120 | Settled with the registration tax |
| Registry fees (derechos de registro) | 1.333% + 2% of the fee | COP 10,877,280 | USD 3,255 | Whoever files the deed for registration |
| Total closing costs | 2.767% | COP 22,133,280 | USD 6,624 | Both parties |
| Seller's income-tax withholding (retención en la fuente) | 1% | COP 8,000,000 | USD 2,394 | Seller (an advance on income tax, not a cost to the buyer) |
USD at the official exchange rate (TRM) of COP 3,341.23 per dollar on 2026-09-30; the rate changes daily. Registry fees use the top band, which applies above COP 494,798,857. Excludes small fixed charges (per-page notary fees, notary collection fees, certificates). No stamp tax applies because the price is below 20,000 UVT (COP 1,047,480,000 in 2026).
The legal default is that buyer and seller split the notary costs and the registration tax equally; anything else is a matter of negotiation and should be written into the promise to buy (promesa de compraventa).[7],[4]
Notary and registry fees
The Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro sets both tariffs every year. For 2026, notaries charge a single rate of three per thousand (0.3%) on deeds with a value above COP 259,300, plus VAT, a per-page charge and a small fixed collection fee that depends on the value of the deed. The 2026 notary tariffs took effect on 1 February 2026.[1],[2]
| Value of the act (COP) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 12,852,101 | COP 53,100 |
| 12,852,101 to 192,778,606 | 9.11 per thousand |
| 192,778,606 to 334,149,656 | 11.31 per thousand |
| 334,149,656 to 494,798,857 | 12.60 per thousand |
| Above 494,798,857 | 13.33 per thousand |
A further 2% of the fee is charged for systematisation and document conservation.
Registration tax in Antioquia
Antioquia charges a registration tax of 1% on acts with a value that are registered at the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos, paid by the parties in equal shares unless they state otherwise. The Estampilla Pro-Desarrollo adds 0.5 per thousand of the same value.[4],[5]
Registration must be requested within two months of the date of the deed (three months if it was signed abroad); after that, late-payment interest accrues for each month or part of a month.[8],[4]
Taxes for the seller: withholding and capital gains
Individuals selling a fixed asset such as a home have 1% of the sale price withheld as an advance on income tax. It must be paid before the sale is executed, at the notary.[6]
If the property was held for two years or more, the profit (sale price minus tax cost) is a capital gain (ganancia ocasional) taxed at 15%, the same rate for residents and non-resident individuals. If it was held for less than two years, the profit is taxed as ordinary income instead.[6]
Non-resident sellers need a RUT tax registration to file in Colombia. The profit on property located in Colombia is Colombian-source income, so plan the filing with a Colombian accountant before you sell.[9]
Stamp tax on higher-value properties
Since 2023, deeds transferring property worth 20,000 UVT or more pay stamp tax: 1.5% on the part of the value between 20,000 and 50,000 UVT, and 3% on the part above 50,000 UVT. With the 2026 UVT of COP 52,374, the thresholds are COP 1,047,480,000 and COP 2,618,700,000.[6],[10]
Next steps
- Read the step-by-step guide to buying property in Colombia as a foreigner.
- Check current prices in the Índice Brik to estimate your costs.
- Selling? See how Grupo Brik can sell your property.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs when buying property in Medellín?
For buyer and seller together, about 2.3–2.8% of the price in 2026, depending on the value: notary fees of 0.3% plus VAT, Antioquia's 1% registration tax plus a 0.05% estampilla, and registry fees of up to 1.333% plus 2% of the fee. The seller also has 1% withheld as an income-tax advance.[1],[4],[3],[6]
Who pays the notary fees in Colombia?
By default the buyer and seller split the costs of the sale deed equally, unless they agree otherwise.[7]
What is the capital gains tax on property in Colombia?
15% of the profit for property held two years or more, for both residents and non-resident individuals. Property held for less than two years is taxed as ordinary income.[6]
What is the retención en la fuente on a property sale?
A 1% withholding on the sale price that individual sellers pay at the notary before the sale is executed. It is an advance on the seller's income tax, not an extra tax.[6]
Sources
- Resolución RES-2026-000964-6 de 2026 (tarifas notariales). Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro. https://servicios.supernotariado.gov.co/files/portal/portal-resolucion_000964_6_2026.pdf. Accessed .
- Ya están en vigencia las nuevas tarifas notariales. Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro. https://www.supernotariado.gov.co/prensa/noticias/ya-estan-en-vigencia-las-nuevas-tarifas-notariales/. Accessed .
- Resolución RES-2026-001726-6 de 2026 (tarifas de registro). Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro, compiled by Cancillería. https://cancilleria.gov.co/normograma/compilacion/docs/resolucion_superregistro_17266_2026.htm. Accessed .
- Ordenanza 48 de 2025, Estatuto de Rentas de Antioquia. Gobernación de Antioquia. https://compilacionjuridica.antioquia.gov.co/compilacion/compilacion/docs/ORD_ASAMANT_0048_2025.htm. Accessed .
- ABC del impuesto de registro. Gobernación de Antioquia. https://www.antioquia.gov.co/images/PDF2/Hacienda/2024/mayo/abc-impuesto-registro.pdf. Accessed .
- Estatuto Tributario (arts. 300, 314, 316, 398, 519). Función Pública, Gestor Normativo. https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=6533. Accessed .
- Código Civil, artículo 1862 (gastos de la escritura). Secretaría General del Senado. http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/codigo_civil_pr057.html. Accessed .
- Ley 223 de 1995, artículo 231 (plazo para registrar). Secretaría General del Senado. http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_0223_1995_pr004.html. Accessed .
- Decreto 1625 de 2016, arts. 1.6.1.2.1 y 1.6.1.2.11 (RUT). Cancillería, Normograma. https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/sites/default/files/Normograma/docs/pdf/decreto_1625_2016_pr029.pdf. Accessed .
- Comunicado de prensa 128 de 2025: UVT 2026 (Resolución 000238). DIAN. https://www.dian.gov.co/Prensa/Paginas/NG-Comunicado-de-Prensa-128-2025.aspx. Accessed .
- Tasa de Cambio Representativa del Mercado (TRM), histórico. Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia, datos.gov.co. https://www.datos.gov.co/Econom-a-y-Finanzas/Tasa-de-Cambio-Representativa-del-Mercado-TRM/32sa-8pi3. Accessed .