Between November 29 and December 2, experts from the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT) have visited the DIAN, in order to learn about the current status of the Colombian electronic invoicing process. Several aspects of the Electronic Invoice System were evaluated during the experts’ visit.

The CIAT mission evaluated functional, technical and technological aspects of the Electronic Invoicing System, identifying its strengths and also the aspects to be improved in order to enhance its use.

During four (4) days of productive work, fundamental issues were discussed, such as:

• The impact of electronic invoices on auditing processes and experiences in Latin America.
• Products and innovation based on information from electronic fiscal supports.
• Analytical and Electronic Invoice – current developments.
• Presentation of the updated Electronic Invoice System, its legal and functional aspects, metrics and upcoming plans for massification.
• Strategy to standardize products and/or services in electronic documents.
• Technological challenges to increase the number of electronic documents and transactions.
• Current status and potential of the platform.
• Electronic invoicing and customs processes.
• Technological options to expand the processing capacity.

The closing report of the CIAT mission approved the speed at which the electronic invoice was implemented in the country in less than 2 years, while in some cases this same process took other countries more than 10 years.

They also highlighted the DIAN’s commitment to continue incorporating new documents, such as those related to the sales invoice, which will be implemented in 2023.  They supported the entity’s plan to move forward in a new phase that involves continuing to strengthen data analysis processes, electronic auditing and services for taxpayers such as: customs procedures, automatic refunds, suggested tax declarations, income tax invoicing. CIAT’s technical assistance can be very important for the DIAN to continue appropriating the existing best practices in these areas.

In addition, during the closing session, the team discussed offers for the electronic document generation solutions, the Electronic Import Invoice and the massification of RADIAN in Colombia.

Mrs. Cecilia Rico Torres, Director of Tax Management, Julian David Medina, Director of Innovation and Technology Management, Guillermo Sinisterra, Director of Strategic Management and Analytics, Andres Ordoñez, Director of Tax Management and Luis Hernando Valero, Deputy Director of Electronic Invoicing have received the mission’s conclusions.

Source: Portal DIAN / Prensa.