The director of Colombia’s tax collection agency has called for a 70% increase in the number of tax auditors in order to be able to effectively combat tax evasion.Juan Ricardo Ortega, who heads Colombia’s tax agency DIAN said that there are still nine decrees of a 2012 tax reform to be implemented, including many issues of culture change, changes to electronic billing and card tax — and no new people to do it with.
MORE: Colombia passes progressive tax reform
| “I do not have enough people, we are working with nails and have no way to do more. We are in survival mode, doing what we have to do, but we lack people.” |
An increase in the number of auditors is needed to ensure that no tax-evaders can “sleep soundly.”
“I do not have enough people, we are working with nails and have no way to do more. We are in survival mode, doing what we have to do, but we lack people,” he told Colombia’s El Pais newspaper on Tuesday.
In 2013, Colombia’s tax take was $53 million, up from $35 million in 2010, thanks to increased enforcement of tax regulations.
MORE: Colombia loses US$2 billion a year through VAT and income tax evasion
DIAN has had its own problems with crime in recent years.
Last year, tax officers were accused of falsely claiming millions of dollars worth of tax receipts.
MORE: ‘Rot in jail’, says President Santos to tax officers accused of stealing $17.1M
Sources
- La Dian necesita 7000 auditores mas (El Pais)
