The Colombian government collected 39.61 trillion Colombian pesos ($21.63 billion) in taxes in the first seven months of this year, a tad higher than the COP39.60 trillion collected in the same period a year ago, the country’s tax agency, known as DIAN, said Tuesday.
The government’s goal for the first seven months of this year was COP39.42 trillion. DIAN attributed the slightly better-than-expected results to the growing economy.
Revenues from sales taxes rose 18%, offsetting declines of income and corporate taxes.
The tax collection in all of 2009 reached COP68.9 trillion.
For 2010, tax collection is expected to reach COP69.7 trillion.
The Colombian government expects to report a consolidated budget deficit equivalent to 3.6% of its gross domestic product in 2010, up from 2.8% in 2009. (Inti Landauro / Dow Jones)
