New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, and while we’re looking forward to Colombian traditions and delicious food, we’re also focused on helping international entrepreneurs and business owners set up and run companies in Colombia smoothly and compliantly.

The first quarter of every year is critical, both if you’re looking to incorporate a company and if you have done so already. Not only does it set the tone for the rest of the upcoming year, but it also provides an opportunity for your business to take the time to understand the previous years’ gains and loses, and represent that within your corporate structure as well as review employment matters patiently.

From January to March, your focus is going to be divided between corporate and employment obligations. Beyond any economic consequences, these obligations require you to fulfill mandates with two of the most important groups of people in your company: shareholders and employees.

In this guide, we’ll cover the most important corporate and employment obligations from January to March, helping you plan ahead and stay compliant while keeping shareholders and employees happy.

Why Q1 Is Critical for Colombian Companies

Respecting shareholder’s right to access company information in a timely manner can define your company’s success for the entire year, especially if you’re looking to raise capital and need to count votes to do so. Our clients regularly take full advantage of the first, and mandatory, shareholder’s meeting to request further investment, which has proven to be a successful strategy if documents (financial statements and management reports) are presented in a straightforward manner.

On another hand, paying employees’ unemployment and housing benefits on time is important for them to reinforce commitment to your company, aside from preventing legal risks, of course. Keep in mind these benefits should be paid only in specialized entities, never in cash nor directly to employees.

Key Corporate Obligations in Q1 2026

The mandatory annual shareholder meeting makes Q1 of every year the busiest one for corporate governance because of the contents to which shareholders have rights to. The actual deadline is March 31st, except for the UBO (Ultimate Beneficiary Owner) mandate in February and April

Obligation	Description	Deadline
Annual Financial Statements for the prior fiscal year	Requires presentation and approval at mandatory annual shareholders meeting	March 31st
Management report for the prior fiscal year	Requires presentation and approval at mandatory annual shareholders meeting	March 31st
Annual mandatory shareholders meeting	Shareholders have a right to meet even if the legal representative fails to call the meeting	March 31st
Update shareholder and minute books	Shareholders have a right to inspect shareholder and minute books five business days before the annual mandatory meeting	March 31st (OR five business days before the annual mandatory meeting)
Renew Business Registration (“Matrícula Mercantil” in Spanish)	Fee must be paid at the Chamber of Commerce where the company was registered	March 31st
Update contact information with Chamber of Commerce	Only if the company changes its email, address or phone number	March 31st (parallel obligation to renewing Business Registration)
Appoint a Fiscal Auditor only if required by law	Requirements available here, and in checklist below ⬇	Usually March 31st (or 3 months after end of fiscal year if other than December 31st)
Report Ultimate Beneficial Owners to tax authority (DIAN)	Only if there were changes in January	Reports must be filled during the following month in January, April, July and October

Fiscal Auditor Checklist

• Gross assets as of December 31, 2025, equal to or greater than 5,000 legal monthly minimum wages (SMMLV), that is, COP $ 7,117,500,000 or USD $ 1,870,996
• Gross income as of December 31, 2025, equal to or greater than 3,000 SMMLV, which equals COP $ 4,270,500,000 or USD $ 1,122,597
• Branches of foreign companies.

Usually, companies incorporated as SAS (which sums for up to 95% of Colombian entities), do not require Fiscal Auditors, but we’re glad to refer you to a team of trusted accountants if and when you require further advisory.

Employment Obligations Every Company Should Consider

While not all employment obligations are mandatory in Q1, following best practices ensures smooth operations:

Key Takeaways

• Q1 sets the tone: Properly handling corporate and employment obligations early in the year ensures smooth operations and investor trust.

• Shareholders and employees matter: Timely information and benefits build trust and loyalty.

• Stay organized: Use checklists, calendars, and professional guidance to avoid missing critical deadlines.

How CLE Helps

At Colombia Legal Edge, we guide international founders and local teams through corporate and employment compliance, helping you:

• Avoid penalties while creating a strong foundation for growth.

• Align your corporate, tax, and payroll structures for 2026.

• Ensure proper documentation for shareholders and employees.

• Meet DIAN, bylaw and Chamber of Commerce requirements.