Although so far the decrees that would stop the three new taxes have not left, it was already known by the Ministry of Finance that due to the serious situation that the population of the Catatumbo passes in the north of Santander, some tributes will be imposed to obtain resources and face this humanitarian crisis.
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According to the figures of the authorities, since January 16, 2025 that this war conflict began to date they are already reported near 100 dead people and 50,000 people who have been displaced of their homes in the complex public order situation in this part of the country.
With the above, the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, decided to issue the decree of internal shock that gives the faculty to the head of state to issue norms with force of law without the need to be approved by the Congress of the Republic.
Thus, the first actions he adopted when issuing this decree were in economic matters, which announced three taxes through which $ 1 billion would be collected. According to the Minister of Finance, Diego Guevara would be temporary while the internal shock status lasts. With what would last about 90 days, however, this could be extended for another three months or even 2025.
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Meanwhile, in the disaggregated of that billion pesos, The tax that will generate the greatest collection will be the imposition of VAT to the games of luck and chance online, since it is projected to enter the state coffers $ 519,000 million.
The second tax that will have the greatest contribution is the tribute to oil and coal exports that must pay 1% additional. This would raise $ 214,000 million. And finally is the bell tax, which will be 1%. With what the projection of collection of this will be around $ 330,000 million.
Oil
EFE
What would be the effects for the hydrocarbons sector?
After these ads by the National Government, the sectors that will have to pay these new taxes pronounced and explained the effects on the companies and the final consumer that will have the payment of more money to the state coffers.
For Francisco Lloreda, former president of the Colombian Association of Petroleum and Mining (ACP), “El Tax is aimed at private oil companies that export, because what will correspond to Ecopetrol could have been transferred by another means or crossing the diesel subsidy”, Said the expert.
In addition, he stressed that the main impact will be seen in foreign investment for this economic sector, since they must make more contributions that would significantly affect companies and the country.
“It is one more stitch against the oil industry and foreign companies to scare them. And advance in its policy of destruction of the mining-energy sector. The worst thing is that the government has no idea how to conjure the crisis of the Catatumbo, as it announces some projects that will not end the wave of violence. The most unusual is the budget cut to the Ministry of Defense to say now that you need resources from these taxes”He said.
In turn, from Fenalcarbón, its president, Carlos Cante said that within the impacts that will be generated for the sector is The affectation in the competitiveness of Colombian coal in front of the world.
“Nothing more anti -technic for an economy to penalize exports. We do not know where these accounts come from and how to try to develop this in 90 days, but this is a sector that during these two and a half years has been facing the hate and struggle of the government, by increasing the tax burden that leads to reducing the terms of the competitiveness of Colombian coals. Any additional load that is generated in the country will affect the possibilities of exporting our products in a world that is increasingly consuming coal”Said Cante.
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In that context, the former minister of mines and energy, Amilkar Acosta, referred to the effects that its implementation could have for the mining-energy sector.
“Recall that in the previous tax reform some taxes were established to the sector and that has subtracted competitiveness. This measure would be another twist, especially because it would be giving at a time when hydrocarbons prices are not at the same level as when this project was approved ”he said.
The former minister stressed that when the guarantee was given to that tax initiative, the price of coal was above 400 dollars a ton, while currently around 100 and $ 120. In the case of oil, this was at $ 90 a barrel, while today it is averaged at 70 dollars.
In the specific case of crude oil, Acosta recalled that the largest producer and exporter in Colombia is Ecopetrol, which is from the State. In that sense, “To the extent that a lien is established, the profits are going to go down. And if the profits fall, then the dividends turn by Ecopetrol to the nation is also reduced. Somehow you would be taking money from one pocket for the other”, He explained.
However, he also added that the text remains to be seen to know in what terms this contribution will be implemented.
It is estimated that in Colombia the average commitment of each player, on online platforms, is 14,000 pesos a day.
Private archive
Impacts for the Sector of Luck and Azar online Games?
Meanwhile, the Colombian Federation of Luck and Azar Games Entrepreneurs (Fedecoljuegos) said that by imposing a 19% lien from online games it would affect the economic balance of concession contracts and puts the stability of the industry at risk .
“This measure would not only put the financial stability of a key sector for the digital economy at risk, but also alter the contractual balance between companies currently authorized and the State, compromising the model that has allowed the sustainable growth of this industry”Said the guild.
In addition, he stressed that the great impact would be seen in the health sector, since by taxing this type of bets they could lower income for the financing of the health system in Colombia.
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“The online game sector in Colombia operates under strict regulation established by Coljuegos, which establishes the technical, legal and financial conditions for its operation. This model has been fundamental to guarantee the development, growth and sustainability of this economic activity, as well as the generation of income for the financing of the health system, while promoting the legality, transparency and the formality of this industry. In the third quarter of 2024, the online games contributed $ 231,343 million to the Colombian health system and generated 150,000 formal jobs, consolidating itself as a pillar of digital transformation in the country”The guild added.
Meanwhile, he mentioned that the current model of the games of luck and random position, which leaves operators with limited net income to cover high operating costs. He said that an additional tax would compromise the viability of authorized companies and, therefore, the income for the State.
He warned that this tax would also encourage the growth of illegal platforms, which do not meet the regulatory demands and against which government measures to counteract them have been insufficient.
“This would not only increase the risk for players, when operating in a non -supervised environment, but also deprived the country of essential resources that the legal industry contributes today to finance health and social development programs”Fedecoljuegos said.
Leidy Ruiz
Jessika Rodríguez
Portfolio journalist
