The Ministry of Finance has launched a public consultation on a draft decree amending Decree 1625 of 2016 on tax issues. The decree outlines the competence of the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN, for its acronym in Spanish) regarding the reconciliation of tax, customs and exchange processes. The powers were classified in the recently enacted Economic Growth Law. Interested parties have time to comment on this until February 8, 2020 here.

The regulations clarify the following points:

• Objective. The regulation seeks to streamline the judicial workings of the DIAN by empowering the entity to settle open administrative processes.

• Taxpayers affected. Those taxpayers affected are those with legal or administrative proceedings under way, or who have outstanding tax obligations due to penalties issued as of December 27, 2019, who wish to settle or end the litigation by mutual agreement.

• Deadline for applying to the DIAN for conciliation. Taxpayers have time to file a conciliation request with the DIAN’s Special Administrative Unit before June 30, 2020.

• Creation of a public body to execute conciliations. The regulation calls on the DIAN to create, by means of a resolution, the Conciliation and Judicial Defense Committee of the Special Administrative Unit of the National Tax Directorate -DIAN.