Global VAT & Indirect Tax News

Colombia’s Constitutional Court suspended the emergency decree that imposed a 19% VAT on online gambling, leaving operators subject only to the standard 15% GGR tax. The suspension, effective from 29 January 2026, will remain until the court’s plenary chamber issues a final decision. The 19% VAT, originally introduced in February 2025 on deposits, expired on 31 December 2025 before being shifted to GGR.

Colombia enacted Legislative Decree 1474 on 29 December 2025, raising VAT on alcoholic beverages to 19% from 5%, imposing 19% VAT on online gambling, and reducing the VAT‑free threshold for low‑value imports from USD 200 to USD 50. The decree also allocates 5% of the alcoholic beverage VAT to departments. These measures aim to stabilise public finances after the 2026 budget rejection.

Colombia will impose a 10% VAT on gasoline and diesel from Jan 1 2026, alongside a 90‑peso per gallon gasoline and 99‑peso per gallon diesel price adjustment. The government also raised the minimum wage by 22.7% to 1.75 million pesos, while inflation is projected to stay above 4% by year‑end, prompting potential price‑control measures.

Colombia’s government has shifted the 19% value‑added tax on online gambling from deposits to gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the 2026 fiscal year. The emergency decree, issued after the 2025 Financing Bill failed, re‑allocates the tax to GGR, reducing the effective burden on operators from up to 70% of real income to about 34% of gross revenue. The change is expected to fill a COP16.3 trillion budget gap for 2026 but may face legal challenges.