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Good luck with that..Local Colombian accountants and lawyers have little clue as for as the tax laws as they apply to expats. And as you found out the big firms may have an idea, but will be over zealous with paperwork, requirements etc. and still not have the whole story. The best answers would come from the Colombian local branches of PWC abd Deloite Touche, but thst would cost 10 000 plus per year.

Your best bet are 2 options:

1.Dont bother doing a declaración de renta  1000s of expats do, and nothing happens. ( also see note at end)

2.Do what you are doing and find a local accountant who has " friends" at DIAN and can do a " fake" declaración  de renta, and you will end up paying " zero" plus whatever the accountant charges you for his/her services. Thats  what 99% of the expats who do complete a Declaración  de Renta do  and it works  because 95% of DIAN employees dont know the rules that apply to foreigners either  and dont  really care anyway.

Depending on which country you are from, you might not even legally have to do a declaración  de renta  even if you are in the country longrr than 185 days in 365.

For example  Canada has a tax treaty with Colombia, and you are considered  a tax resident  of Canada  only, if your income is generated there, and you have a " residence " in Canada.But obviously you would have to pay taxes in Canada.

The US does not have a tax treaty with Colombia.

As far as an actual accountant to sucssesfully undertake option 2  I will let other members aid you.through the PM.option, because  I know of none personally.

I see from your orofile you worked in KSA.

If you dont have residence in any particular country and have substantial assets ..bank account  stocks, bonds   propertues, I would go out on a limb and say just  keep your mouth shut and dont declare any of that, you are opening a big can of worms, Colombian has a progressive income tax that starts at a low income level AND one of the few countries with a wealth tax ( at least on paper).that also starts at a.low level..(around $600,000 US , depending on exchange rate)

If you want to stay 100% " legal" due to your " conscience" or whatever, I would suggest spending only 6 months a year.in the country on a passport stamp

@nico peligro

Thanks so much for your responses!  I'll wait for someone to recommend option #2? 😀

@nico peligro

The problem is that I have a permanent residence visa for Colombia, and would like to move back there permanently.  I do not want to "open a can of worms," but I don't want to stay off the radar completely if one day I want to apply for citizenship.  Oh well, I still have some time to think about it....