The head of the Dian, Colombia’s customs and tax agency, announced Thursday that the state aims to collect US$69.7 trillion (US$35.6 billion) in tax in 2010.
This is up from 2009’s gross tax revenue of COP68.9 trillion, and the 2008 revenue of COP65.5 trillion.
Nestor Diaz, Dian director, said that tax revenues had exceeded targets in November and December of last year, an indication that the economy is improving. He added that his prediction of a good tax revenue this year is based on the expected upswing in the Colombian economy in the coming months.
Last year’s tax revenue fell short of its target, due to the global economic downturn.
Earlier in the week Finance Minister Oscar Ivan Zuluaga made a more gloomy assessment of the situation, announcing budget cuts in response to poor economic indicators. The minister raised the 2010 predicted budget deficit to 3.7% of GDP, up from 3.6% in December.
