About dliss62

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

Colombia: Expats who returned to US or Canada:

DEPRESSION! I miss my housekeeper, cheap prices, hot chicas, friendly people, social life and NOT being angry all the time. Can't wait to get back!

Colombia: Barking Dogs:

Odd that some here seem to blame the dogs. There are no bad dog... just bad owners! Dogs don't know that it's not ok to poopie on the sidewalk, but the owners do. Dogs don't know that it's not ok to bark at 5am, but the owners do. I do agree that people in Colombia need to neuter their pets. We have the same problem here in the U.S., which leads to millions of pets euthanized (slaughtered) every year. Some people should not be allowed to own pets and I wish there was a type of license and training requirement to own a pet, but that's just wishful thinking. It's a persons right to own pets, but I don't see where he/she has a right right to abuse them.

Colombia: TAX OR NO TAX?:

Like many here, I have been monitoring this situation closely for some time now. I’m not yet retired, but planning on it in the next 1-2 years. Typical advice that I have been getting is as follows… “I have been living here for 11 years and pay both US and Colombian taxes but I have never been taxed on anything in the US by Colombia. My understanding is you are not double taxed here and I have never been taxed here for any of my US activities including social security. I have sold my home in Naples and now do not own any property in the US. While I owned my Naples home I did not pay any Colombian taxes on it.” Fortunately, I know how to read and have visited DIAN’s webpage, where nowhere does it say that expat (residents) are excluded from taxes. I’m not an Accountant, but can easily see that tax liability in Colombia is going to depend on many factors to include income and assets. I think it’s foolish for anyone to think that the Colombian government is going to waive resources in light of the recent revenue shortfall due to tumbling oil prices. I don’t believe that anyone with a modest income has a whole lot to be concerned about, but those who have investments, 401ks, pensions and assets should proceed with caution. With my luck, DIAN will show up at my door a few years down the road claiming a good part of my worldly possessions. DIAN is not like the IRS, but they’re getting better and will improve their technological capabilities.Talking with knowledgeable Tax Attorneys/Accountants seems the prudent way to handle this issue. Any Colombian Tax Attorney or Accountant that tells those of you in the higher income brackets “not to worry” is reason for you to START WORRYING!

Colombia: Colombian Boyfriend:

Sounds like the his ship came in!

Colombia: Columbia vs. Ecuador retirement:

I think it also depends what you're fishing for...Colombia has the best fishing spots for WOMEN!

Colombia: Colombia's downturn?:

That I'm getting contradictory info...

Colombia: Colobia TAX REFORM:

Here is an article that may be of interest to ALCON... "Colombia’s chief prosecutor slammed a tax reform on Monday, the day it took effect, claiming the new tax system fails to confront the mass tax evasion that has long undermined the country’s fiscal system. Prosecutor General Nestor Humberto Martinez sent a letter to the Minister for Finance raising stern objections regarding the extensive reform bill that took effect on January According to Colombia’s top prosecutor, the tax reform does not provide for the misconduct of taxpayers, who allegedly are hiding assets worth as much as a quarter of the country’s entire GDP in foreign tax havens. ________________________________________ Colombia’s elite hiding more than a quarter of country’s GDP in tax havens ________________________________________ “It would be a mockery by any Colombian Prosecutor General to say that we are taking a certain, firm step against tax evasion,” said Martinez in the letter to Minister Mauricio Cardenas. “Unfortunately the law did not foresee anything about the conduct of taxpayers who omit their duty to file income tax returns, deceptive behavior manifestly harmful to the public purse,” added Martinez. Colombia’s lawmakers approved the bill last week which aims to raise billions of dollars in the coming years to make up for lost oil revenue and preserve the Andean nation’s investment grade credit rating. ________________________________________ Colombia’s Congress approves tax reform in bid to raise billions ________________________________________ However, the Prosecutor General has reacted furiously as he claims that the “anti-evasion article” whereby tax evaders will be punished for the “omission of assets” does not go far enough to secure full compliance with the new rules. “The initiative accepted by the Conciliation Commission penalizes the ‘omission of assets’ in tax returns, a conduct that will not have any relevance from the criminal point of view, to the extent that it is impossible to characterize this conduct. In fact, as you know, income taxpayers do not make a list of assets, so this behavior can never be attributed, ” he said in the letter. The reform, expected to bolster tax revenue by 6.2 trillion pesos ($2.07 billion) in 2017, is seen as crucial to preserving Colombia’s BBB investment grade credit rating and is needed to fund anti-poverty programs. The government forecasts revenue will reach 24.1 trillion pesos by 2022. The reform raised value-added tax to 19% from 16%, excluding basic products such as food and medications, among other changes."

Colombia: Santos vs Poor:

Been seeing many videos out of Colombia regarding Santo’s law banning street vendors. I’m not denying the need for clean accessible public spaces, but finding a job in Colombia for anyone poor and in their 40s is practically impossible! Colombia routinely discriminates against older poor workers which leaves them no choice, but to sell what they can on the street to survive. The CNPs tactics are very harsh and immoral. In one video they assault a one legged street vendor and seize his goods! What about the healthy crooks walking the street that mug people? Before Santos passes such a law he should make sure that these people have some type of alternative work to survive. Shameful and cruel!

Colombia: Money:

@tryagain, I must say you're not the norm. Heading back to the States because you're board in Colombia is not something you hear often. I can't wait to leave the states for just that reason...I'M TOTALLY BOARD! Life here (NYC) is impersonal, routine and expensive. Women here are very demanding when it comes to money, and most of my pals are divorced and paying through the nose! Seems you haven't found the right gal yet, and I can only say that I went through several Colombianas before finding my wife. I would think it through before moving back and maybe returning for a few months to see how it feels. Life can be very lonely in the U.S. Good luck!

Colombia: Trump vs Mexico..who's next?:

It appears to me that DT has it in for Latin America and not just MX. This guy is so unpredictable I shutter to think what he will do in the future. Concerning because Colombia has always had an excellent relationship with U.S., and I suspect he will treat Colombia as a banana republic. Not looking good...

Date Joined:

10/14/2015

Total Posts:

281

Posts/Day:

0.52