Colombian Tax Certificate Translation (Form 1654): Spanish to English

What a Colombian Tax Certificate (Form 1654) Contains

A Colombian tax certificate, commonly issued as Form 1654 by the Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN), is an official record of an individual’s income and tax withholdings for a specific tax year. It summarises salary or pension payments, social benefits, and compulsory contributions to health and pension systems, along with the amount of tax withheld at source.

The certificate is structured into distinct sections, each labelled with standardised Spanish terms. Below is a typical layout:

Field	Spanish (Original)	English Translation
Tax Year	Año gravable 2025	Tax year 2025
Employer	Nombre del Empleador: [NAME]	Employer Name: [NAME]
Employee ID	NIT del Empleador: [REGISTRATION NO]	Employer NIT: [REGISTRATION NO]
Labour Income	Rentas de trabajo – salarios	Employment income – salaries
Total Gross Income	Total ingreso bruto	Total gross income
Health Contributions	Aportes a salud	Health contributions
Pension Contributions	Aportes a pensión	Pension contributions
Withholding at Source	Retención en la fuente	Withholding at source

Legal and Regulatory References

The certificate draws its legal basis from Colombia’s Tax Statute (Estatuto Tributario) and specific DIAN resolutions that prescribe the form’s content and periodic update schedule. For foreign readers, understanding these references helps verify that the translated document matches the original’s authority.

Common Spanish Terms on a Colombian Tax Certificate

The table below lists key Spanish phrases that appear on Form 1654 and their standard English equivalents. These terms recur across different sections of the certificate.

Spanish	English
Rentas de trabajo – salarios	Employment income – salaries
Rentas de trabajo – pensiones	Employment income – pensions
Ingreso bruto	Gross income
Aportes obligatorios	Compulsory contributions
Salud	Health
Pensión	Pension
Retención en la fuente	Withholding at source
Impuesto retenido	Tax withheld
Prestaciones sociales	Social benefits
Ingreso neto	Net income

Why People Translate This Certificate into English

Users typically need an English version of their Colombian tax certificate for three main purposes. First, tax compliance with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when claiming the Foreign Tax Credit or reporting worldwide income. Second, visa applications to English-speaking countries such as the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, where proof of income and tax history is mandatory. Third, employment verification by a foreign employer or a cross-border financial institution that requires translated financial documents.

AI Translation vs. Human-Certified Work: When to Use Each

If you need to understand what your Colombian tax certificate says, prepare a draft for a tax advisor, or gather documents for an internal review, Lekhak’s instant AI translation delivers an English DOCX in minutes at a fraction of traditional costs. The AI accurately preserves numbers, column headers, and the document’s structure. However, the self-serve output does not carry a signed certificate of accuracy. For official submissions to the IRS, a foreign embassy, or a court, a certified translation is the right choice because it includes a formal statement of completeness and accuracy. Lekhak offers certified translation on-demand for such official use cases.

What Lekhak’s AI Translation Produces

After you upload a PDF or image of Form 1654, Lekhak’s AI pipeline extracts the text, translates it, and returns a DOCX file with the same section order and table layout. All numeric values, dates, and tax ID numbers (such as the employer’s NIT) remain unchanged. The translated document shows the Spanish original alongside the English translation in a clear side-by-side or columnar format, depending on the source layout. You can edit the DOCX further if needed. No human translator or certification stamp is included in the self-serve delivery.

Getting Your Form 1654: Original, Duplicate, and Variations

Downloading from DIAN’s Portal

The official Form 1654 is available through DIAN’s online platform (MUISCA) for each registered taxpayer. You log in with your NIT and password, navigate to the “Certificados de ingresos y retenciones” section, select the tax year, and download the PDF. The certificate is generated in real-time and can be downloaded multiple times. Each download produces a new version with the same official data.

Differences for Salaried Income vs. Pension Income

For salaried workers, the certificate shows “Rentas de trabajo – salarios” and includes employer contributions to health and pension funds. For pensioners, the same section appears as “Rentas de trabajo – pensiones” with the pension-paying entity as the source. The withholding calculations differ slightly because pension income may have a different tax treatment under Colombian law, but the overall structure of the form remains identical.

When You Need Notarisation, Apostille, or Embassy Attestation

If your Colombian tax certificate must be used in a country that is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, you will need an apostille from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after obtaining a certified translation. Countries that are not apostille members require embassy attestation of the translated document. Lekhak’s certified translation serves as one step in this chain; notarisation and apostille are separate government acts that you arrange with the relevant Colombian authorities or the receiving country’s embassy.

FAQ

Does the IRS accept a self-translated Form 1654?

No. The IRS typically requires a certified translation with a signed statement of accuracy for documents in a foreign language. A self-translated or AI-only version may be rejected during an audit or when claiming the foreign tax credit.

Can I use Lekhak’s AI translation for my US tax return preparation?

Yes, for internal preparation. You can upload your Form 1654 to Lekhak, get an English version in minutes, and share it with your tax advisor. For the final filing, you will likely need a certified translation.

What is the difference between “certified translation” and “notarised translation” for Colombian documents?

A certified translation includes a statement from the translator or agency attesting to the translation’s accuracy. A notarised translation adds a notary’s seal confirming the translator’s identity. For Colombian tax certificates used abroad, both may be required.

How do I get an apostille on my Colombian tax certificate?

After obtaining a certified translation, you take the original certificate and the translation to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised notary to apply for the apostille. The process varies by city; in Bogotá, you can use the online appointment system.

Is a translation of Form 1654 required for a UK visa application?

Yes, the UK Home Office requires any document not in English or Welsh to be accompanied by a certified translation. An AI-only translation without a certificate will not be accepted.

Can Lekhak translate a scanned copy of the certificate?

Yes, Lekhak’s self-serve tool accepts images (JPG, PNG, WebP) and PDFs. The OCR engine extracts the text from the scan before translation.

How long does a certified translation take?

Timelines for certified translation vary depending on workload. For current turnaround estimates, please contact Lekhak’s on-demand team through the platform.

Does the translation need to include a copy of the original?

Most receiving authorities (embassies, courts, IRS) require the translated document to be accompanied by a copy of the original Colombian certificate. The translation itself does not need to embed the original image.

What if my certificate is from a previous tax year?

The same translation process applies. Lekhak’s AI handles any tax year. Certified translation for older years is also available on-demand.

Can I get a certified translation of a tax certificate that is not Form 1654?

Yes, Lekhak’s on-demand certified translation service covers any Colombian tax certificate, including those for independent contractors (Form 1667) or pension income summaries.