I didn't pay an exit tax...how did that happen?

bickerss says on Aug 4, 2008, 10:44:

Depends on the airline I guess and if they include taxes in the fare. I fly air chance all the time, and while I have to go to get the stamp at the impuesto exemption line, I have not had to pay any tax with this airline for over 2 years now. Other times, where I have flown out with copa or aerogal I have had to pay the exit tax.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 4, 2008, 10:50:

Many airlines now include the departure taxes your ticket purchase. It has been included on every flight I've taken in the last year.

In fact, both Continental and AA have even included it when I bought tickets with air miles. They both charge about $50 in taxes for those tickets, so I suppose part of that is the departure tax.

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viajero says on Aug 4, 2008, 10:57:

I fly delta to bogota and never have to pay exit tax. I simply go to a window to be exonerated. I fly on delta buddy pass.
Viajero

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sloopskipper says on Aug 4, 2008, 11:21:

Copa includes taxes also.

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bamacellist says on Aug 4, 2008, 11:34:

Yes, you usually pay the exit tax when you purchase your ticket in the US but you have to go to the window for the stamp. As you wait in line someone may ask you if you've gotten the stamp and pull you out of line to get it if you haven't. If you somehow manage to evade them and pay the tax, a flight attendant should give you a form for reimbursement.

Expedia always has you pay this in advance.

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tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 4, 2008, 12:10:

rocinante says on Aug 4, 2008, 13:36:

I heard that one time someone didn't have to pay because the agent saw the student visa and didn't notice that it was expired. I can't see this happening too often...

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brano says on Aug 5, 2008, 05:17:

3 years ago i was leaving colombia from bogota and i pretended not to understand that i have to pay the departure tax. i thought to myself i would just give it a try. well, it didnt work and they sent me back to the counter but first i had to line up in a huge line. after like 20 minutes i was not really moving and being a bit hangover i started to feel a bit impatient. luckily, you have these airport guys walking around and helping people to proceed if there are just tons of people and it looks like nobody will fly anywhere. i remember this lady came up to me and asked if i had payed the tax already and i dont know why but i said YES. she realized that my plane was leaving soon and took me straight to the check-in and i was in and out in 5. i guess i was just lucky...

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panthdave says on Aug 5, 2008, 13:20:

Copa-All Taxes Included via Aero Republica out of Panama.
American-5.00 Tourist Tax you have to pay when departing from Colombia. All other taxes included
Avianca-5.00 Tourist Tax you have to pay when departing from United States. All other taxes included.
Delta and Spirit ????????? Don't know

Make sure you get a tourist stamp instead of business or you have will have to pay 55,000 Pesos more at the airport when leaving. That happened to me once now I check to make sure before leaving passport control in Colombia and demand a tourist stamp...For people that fly many times back and forth..

panthdave Miami

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poco says on Aug 5, 2008, 13:49:

Glad to see that the PBH B.S. hasn't changed much in the last three months.

Yep,, I can count on PBH for my daily dose.

OK,, this is how it works.

Number one,, never pay an exit tax ahead of time,, NEVER. Your life will be much simpler.

Might be a problem for some,, but think about this,,, if you stay in Colombia for LESS than 60 days there is no EXIT tax,, that is unless you're ignorant,, well,,, then you pay,, OH WAIT,, maybe you are not ignorant,, just rich and want to donate 60 mil peso to Colombia,, or,, maybe tooooo lazy to go get a piece of paper ?

What if the airline loses the paper that showed you paid ??? Then what do you do ?

complain ? go to the manager ? Yell real loud ? (well that might work). You want to leave,, not argue. What about getting a refund? How many have the time to spend asking someone to send you some cash or credit your credit card ?

Listen up. If you stay LESS than 60 days there is NO EXIT TAX when you leave. Regardless of what folks say,, the best bet is go to the DAS tax window at the airport and ask for the document that says you DO NOT NEED TO PAY. All they need to see is your passport with the entry date stamp.

Do this at the airport BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Have someone stand in ticket line and YOU go to the DAS tax window,, that will give you something to do.

However,,,, I always stay more than 60 days per trip so donating 50 to 60 mil pesos to help the poor folks in Colombia doesn't bother me that much.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Gator says on Aug 5, 2008, 14:46:

Pedro, I though you paid more if your stay was over sixty day and it was the same as what a Colombian national pays when they leave the country.

How does one avoid paying the tax when it is included in the air fare? My daughters have no choice - it is paid when they buy their ticket(at least Dad pays it when he sends them the money).

I don't think DAS runs that tax window. What the entry stamp on your passport is taking the place of it the old process of having to go to a separate window and get the tax REDUCTION paper. What they check at that window is to make sure you have been in country for LERSS than sixty days. If it is overs sixty days you have to pay about and extra $31.500 pesos which makes the departure tax the same as that for a Colombian national. Aeronáutica Civil de Colombia's web sit has a good explanation, cites the decrees and the law and has an up to date list of the current tax at at all the international departure points-if you can wade through all the BS and find it.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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poco says on Aug 5, 2008, 15:07:

Quote: My daughters have no choice - it is paid when they buy their ticket(at least Dad pays it when he sends them the money).
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Are you sure they are paying the EXIT tax,, you know,, there is an ENTRY tax now? or,, I think they started it a few years ago.
______________________

Quote: I don't think DAS runs that tax window
=======================
DAS has a window in Cali,, I was just there,, DAS was upstairs last year,, the new place is across the lobby from the international departure exit.

Tried to get the paper because I was in country less than 90 days,, heck,, worth a try,, anyway,, if they weren't DAS then they were DAS contract. Anyway,, that exact window is where you can get the document,,

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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bhill says on Aug 5, 2008, 15:17:

I think if your visit is very short you are exempt from paying this tax. Or so I was told once when I has only a 3 day trip.

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getting better says on Aug 5, 2008, 15:19:

I will write what I think is the case, if anyone can correct it then maybe we can write a definitive statement. Much information is incorrect on the internet!
There is no "exit tax", what there is is 3 different taxes:
A. Tasas Aeroportuarias Internacionales: $33. Evreyone has to pay but airlines normally include it in the ticket, except LAN and sometimes Delta.
B. Impuesto de timbre nacional: $23. Foreigners exempt if staying less than 60 days. You have to go to the tax exeption desk at the aiport to get the exemption. But if you dont the airline staff will help you and send you there anyway.
C. Tourist tax of $5. I am not sure of the rules for this.

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Gator says on Aug 5, 2008, 19:43:

Tasas Aeroportuarias Internacionales: Según lo dispuesto en la Ley 2a. la Ley 20 de 1979, la salida del país por vía aérea y marítima de Colombianos y extranjeros residentes en Colombia causará un impuesto de Timbre Nacional cuyo valor lo fija el Gobierno Nacional mediante Decreto. I will try and find the newest one which is resolucion 738 de 2002

From BOGOTA to any international destination USD$ 33.00 - COP$ 63.500
revised July 10 2008. Cali pay $28 dollars; if by Barranquilla $44 dollars and the most expensive by Cartagena $ 45 dollars For a stay of longer than 60 days or for a Colombian national add USD$23.00. I believe if you are a Colombian national or have a cédula you will be exempt from the "tourist tax."

I have sent and e-mail to jsalazar at aerocivil.gov.co and hopefully will get an answer.

Ah, Colombia-ain't it wonderful.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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poco says on Aug 5, 2008, 20:12:

Quote:

A. Tasas Aeroportuarias Internacionales: $33. Evreyone has to pay but airlines normally include it in the ticket, except LAN and sometimes Delta.
B. Impuesto de timbre nacional: $23. Foreigners exempt if staying less than 60 days. You have to go to the tax exeption desk at the aiport to get the exemption. But if you dont the airline staff will help you and send you there anyway.
C. Tourist tax of $5. I am not sure of the rules for this.
=============
A. I refer to this as an Entry Tax,
B. Close to correct,, I stayed over 60,, but less than 90 days,, Cost in Cali,, 25 USD.
C. Correct
Actually, I think the names of A and B should be swapped but who cares,,, they are just names,, the idea is correct.


So,, if you're leaving Colombia for the U.S. you should have about $30 U.S.D. PLUS,, if you have NOT paid the entry tax (I always pay it on the ticket) you might be asked for another $33.00.

If you've paid the entry tax then make sure you have the receipt, remember this is colombia and they might NOT have the paper work correct.

PS: Continental will not have any more flights direct from Houston to Cali after Sept. 1, 2008. However,, I understand they are adding an additional flight from Houston to Bogota.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Gator says on Aug 5, 2008, 20:38:

Entry Tax, nope it's a departure tax since you pay when you leave unless your friendly airline has tacked it on to the ticket price. Isn't the Tourist tax of $5 then entry tax. That's the one we are exempt from since we are not tourists-wife is a citizen, and I am a permanent resident with a cédula

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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NCMike says on Aug 5, 2008, 20:54:

Interesting how different people have had various experiences with this. I realized that part of the ticket price included all sorts of taxes, but this was the first time I didn't have to pay something on the way back. I certainly wasn't going to ask the guy, "Don't I have to pay another tax?" The thing is, I've flown Delta before, and paid the tax. Normally there is that table set up about halfway through the line that snakes around when you go to get your boarding pass and check your luggage, and someone takes your money. I don't know that they necessarily work for the airline, or if they are government workers. There was no table or workers this time. It could be, as said above, maybe I paid those taxes in my ticket. Anyway, I think it can be agreed that the process is confusing, and worth repeating here for those who haven't seen the older posts on this topic... GET that paper STAMPED and hang on to it. Because apparently if you don't have it, you will have to pay something. Poco suggests one might be ignorant and/or too lazy to go get a piece of paper. If no one tells you to do it, how are you supposed to know? I've always stayed less than 60 days, got the paper, but still had to pay something except for this year. I guess I was ignorant before and they just took my money because they could. Standing in that horrible line with luggage and the stress of leaving, many people would pay whatever just to get through it. Maybe they should call it stupid gringo tax. lol

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poco says on Aug 5, 2008, 21:27:

Quote: Isn't the Tourist tax of $5 then entry tax.
=====

That's a problem. I do not remember paying a specific "tourist tax" in the past,, but,, guess what,, I paid it last time I left and it's Five dollars,, I know that for certain because I have a receipt that says,, Impuesto Tourismo/Tourism Tax and it says I paid,, $5.00 USD.

So,, I was probably paying it,, but didn't know the split.

Now that's strange because it DID NOT pay in USD,, I paid in Pesos. Oh well,, they let me leave.

Now then,, I am looking at a receipt and the receipt says,, I DID NOT PAY A TAX CALLED TIMBRE NACIONAL. Ha,, well,, not at the airport but I did pay when I bought the ticket,, so,, as far as I'm concerned, that tax is an entry tax. Why do I say that ? because you didn't need to pay that tax a few years ago.

BUT,,

I've always paid the EXIT tax,, for 6 years,, I've paid it,, however,, my receipt says I paid $25 dollars for the exit tax (TASA Aeroportuaria) and $5.00 for the tourist tax,, at least that is checked and these names are directly opposite of the names listed above.

BUT,,, I didn't pay in USD,, I paid in COP,, the receipt say COP,, guess what I think,,, Someone has their hands on CASH and some of it is sticking. NO ONE (except at the airport) takes cash,, except the banks and authorized payment centers.

Well,, what in a name anyway ? A tax is a tax,, once a tax is started it NEVER goes away or stays the same.

OK,, I didn't want to mention it,, but Colombia is really screwed up !!! Almost nothing works,, or works as expected. Things change and NO ONE knows why or can prove the new system is correct.

Hell,, even simple utility bills get screwed up and it is almost impossible to get them corrected,, like,, getting a water bill for $250,000 pesos for an estrato 1 house or a 60,000 peso bill for another estrato one dweller,, ha,, I know this because folks say,, LOOK AT THIS !!! How can I pay ? No one cares,, I think they protest,,, teachers don't get paid on time,, so,, they've learned,,, they just don't go to classes,, not next week,, right now,, the same day they don't get paid,, so,, someone thinks,, gosh,, we need to find some money,, and pay them,, maybe not find new money,,,, just don't purchase office supplies,, or forms,, or fix the typewriter !!!

When it is the end of the year in Colombia,, don't expect them to have much in the way of supplies. It's been like that for maybe 30 years.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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poco says on Aug 5, 2008, 21:42:

Quote: Poco suggests one might be ignorant and/or too lazy to go get a piece of paper. If no one tells you to do it, how are you supposed to know?
============
Well,,, being not aware or not being informed,, that is the definition of ignorance.

So,,, now,, when people read this they are no longer ignorant. Next time they are in Colombia if they don't get the paper and this results in them paying the exit fee,, well,, now they are STUPID,, stupid is doing something you KNOW is not correct,, but you do it anyway,,, or,, a slow learner. Most slow learners are in prision.

Crazy Stupid is when you do something you know isn't correct,, you've done it before but you expect a different result.

PS: did you know that the city of Philly has the highest percentage of people in the U.S. that have had sex in the shower,,, 86 percent,, !!!!! The other 14 Percent say they've never been to prison.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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NCMike says on Aug 6, 2008, 17:59:

I'll go along with that definition of ignorance. Can't really argue with anything you say Paco. However, from the tone of your writing it seemed like a cynical way of saying that people don't go get the paper because they are lazy and/or ignorant (which when I read that it sounded like calling them stupid).

(Quote) Might be a problem for some,, but think about this,,, if you stay in Colombia for LESS than 60 days there is no EXIT tax,, that is unless you're ignorant,, well,,, then you pay,, OH WAIT,, maybe you are not ignorant,, just rich and want to donate 60 mil peso to Colombia,, or,, maybe tooooo lazy to go get a piece of paper ?

I'm too lazy to argue about it. I just thought people ought to know to get the paper and stamp, keep it, and try to pay less (or zero) taxes on their way out. Maybe most people are already enlightened about this.

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