How to Obtain and Update the RIT in Bogotá: A Step-by-Step Guide at the Secretary of Finance

Starting to bill as an independent professional or opening a business in Bogotá brings with it several tax responsibilities that cannot wait. Although most people immediately process their national registration with the DIAN, many overlook the district registration and end up facing unnecessary requests from the capital's tax administration.

What is the RIT and why is it mandatory if you generate income in Bogotá

The Tax Information Registry (RIT) is the mechanism for the identification, location, and classification of taxpayers of the taxes administered by the Capital District. Unlike the Single Tax Registry (RUT), administered at the national level by the DIAN for taxes such as Income and VAT, the RIT operates exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Bogotá District Treasury Secretariat to monitor compliance with the Industry and Commerce Tax (ICA), notices and boards, and the firefighting surcharge.

All natural or legal persons who carry out industrial, commercial, or service activities permanently or occasionally within the territory of Bogotá D.C. are required to register with the RIT. This includes independent professionals who charge fees for technical services, contractors for public or private entities domiciled in the city, and any merchant with or without an establishment open to the public.

There are two main registration modalities within the district system:

• RIT Taxpayer: Identifies the natural or legal person as a direct taxable person for district taxes.
• RIT Commercial Establishment: Identifies each physical store, office, warehouse, or practice where economic activities are carried out in the city.

Legal deadlines: the two-month rule to avoid sanctions in the ICA

District Decree 807 of 1993 and its regulatory resolutions clearly set the schedule for registration: taxpayers have a maximum period of two (2) calendar months, counted from the effective start of activities taxed with ICA in Bogotá, to formalize their registration in the RIT.

Failure to carry out this procedure within the legal term or failure to report updates such as a change of fiscal domicile or the closing of operations in a timely manner entails district pecuniary sanctions assessed in Tax Value Units (UVT), which can far exceed the minimum sanction set by the District Tax Statute. In fiscal matters, letting deadlines expire is usually the most costly mistake for those who start projects on their own, a reality similar to that faced by employers with the general district and national sanctioning regime.

Prerequisites before requesting the RIT

Before going to a SuperCADE or starting the virtual application, you must have the following documentation on hand in a legible digital format or physical copy:

• Identity document: Citizenship card for Colombians or a valid foreigner's ID card if you are a foreign resident.
• Updated DIAN RUT: It is the essential prerequisite. The RUT must have the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) codes registered that correspond to the tasks you will perform in the capital. If you do not yet have this national document, you must first perform the virtual registration procedure for the RUT at the DIAN.
• Official registration or update request form: District Treasury Secretariat form duly filled out if you opt for the in-person route or written web filing.
• Power of attorney or authorization letter: Only required if the procedure is carried out by a third party on your behalf, attaching a copy of the proxy's identity document.

It is important to note that for merchants who formalize their commercial registration through the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce (CCB), the RIT registration is usually processed automatically thanks to the interoperable cross-check of the Single Business Window. However, independent professionals who provide non-commercial services must process their registration directly and independently with the Treasury Secretariat.

Step-by-step to get the RIT for the first time (Virtual and In-person Channel)

The District Treasury Secretariat offers two main channels to manage the initial registration, depending on the urgency with which you require the document.

In-person route at the SuperCADE Network (Immediate delivery)

If you need your certificate urgently to present a payment invoice or sign a contract, the in-person option is the most agile:

1. Go to the District Treasury Secretariat service module at any of the enabled SuperCADE locations in Bogotá (CAD Carrera 30, Suba, Bosa, Américas, Calle 13, or 20 de Julio).
2. You do not need to schedule an appointment in advance; service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis with a digital queue number in the lobby.
3. Present your original ID and a copy of your updated DIAN RUT.
4. The official will validate your data, file the information in the district system, and give you the official printed RIT certificate immediately and free of charge.

Virtual route through the SDH portal

For those who prefer to self-manage the process from their office or home:

1. Enter the institutional portal of the Treasury Secretariat (haciendabogota.gov.co) and select the Procedures section.
2. Locate the option RIT registration, modification, and/or cancellation and fill out the web electronic filing form.
3. Attach your identity document and updated RUT in PDF format.
4. Once filed, the system will assign a virtual filing number. The entity has an estimated response time of up to 15 business days to validate the information and send you the proof of registration to the registered email address.

How to update data and download the RIT certificate in minutes

If you are already registered in the district database and simply require an updated copy or need to report a change, you do not have to wait in lines or wait days for a response. The Ministry of Finance has the Nueva Oficina Virtual platform available.

1. Log in to the portal nuevaoficinavirtual.shd.gov.co with your document type, identification number, and registered password. If you do not have an active account, you can create one in a few minutes using your email registered in the RUT.
2. In the main services menu, select the tab Mi RIT.
3. To obtain the current document, click on the option Certificación RIT. The system will automatically generate an official PDF file digitally signed by the district administration.
4. If you need to report changes—such as a change of address, addition or removal of CIIU economic activity codes, or cessation of activities—select the option Actualización de datos RIT, upload the supporting documentation that justifies the change, and confirm the modification.

The RIT when operating an office or commercial space in Bogotá

When renting a commercial property, opening a doctor's office, or setting up an office in the city, district tax obligations extend to the physical space. In these cases, the law requires opening the RIT for a Commercial Establishment associated with the physical address of the commercial property, registering the commercial registration number and the exact address of the property.

Choosing the right workplace in Bogotá is one of the most important financial decisions for any business venture. According to the active listings on Colombia Move (September 2026), there is a growing supply with 8 offices and 6 commercial spaces available directly from their owners, which allows professionals and companies to lease without intermediary commissions and agree on clear occupancy terms before filing changes in their district registry.

Frequently asked questions

❓ What is the exact difference between the RUT and the RIT in Bogotá?

The RUT is issued by DIAN at the national level for Income and VAT. The RIT is issued by the Bogotá District Ministry of Finance to identify ICA taxpayers, according to the current district regulations in 2026.

❓ How much does the RIT registration or update process cost?

The process is completely free in both the virtual channels of the District Ministry of Finance and in the in-person modules of the SuperCADE network. It does not require agents or additional payments, according to the procedure in effect in 2026.

❓ How much time do I have to register for the RIT after starting activities?

District tax regulations grant a maximum period of two calendar months. This term is counted from the date operations begin or the first service contract is billed, according to the rules in effect in 2026.

❓ Is it safe to process the RIT without intermediaries and what happens if I don't register on time?

Yes: the official process is free and does not require agents. If you do not register on time, the Ministry of Finance may apply penalties assessed in UVT according to the District Tax Statute, based on updated district regulations.

❓ If I registered my company with the Chamber of Commerce, do I need to get the RIT separately?

Usually, this is not necessary, as the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce has interoperability and automatic cross-referencing with the Ministry of Finance. Even so, it is advisable to verify in the Virtual Office that the data has been uploaded correctly.

❓ Where can I download the RIT certificate if I am already registered?

It can be downloaded immediately from the Nueva Oficina Virtual of the District Ministry of Finance (nuevaoficinavirtual.shd.gov.co). Go to the Mi RIT menu and click on the Certificación RIT option, according to the digital channel in effect in 2026.