Low land taxes and ineffectiveness of the tax system

Abstract

This article shows that taxes on land, especially the property tax, are very low in Colombia, despite the fiscal potential of the municipalities. The appraisals are out of date and even so, the effective rate of property tax does not reach three per thousand. In addition, the structure of these taxes is very disorganized, and varies considerably among municipalities. It shows the slight relevance of taxes as an instrument to modify factorial relationships and improve the efficiency of production, especially in the countryside. Based on the data of the National Agricultural Census 2014, it finds a high concentration of land tenure, in terms of area and productive units, and the importance of small agricultural production. It also points out that the design of land taxes does not contribute to improving agricultural productivity.