Calcufast

Colombia late-payment penalty: $2,000,000 × 10 days → $666,666.67

1 day of salary per day of delay (CST art. 65) with a legal 24-month cap when the salary exceeds 1 SMLMV. $2,000,000 and 10 days: $666,666.67.

Inputs
Enter values to calculate
Results

Late-payment penalty

COP 666,667

Daily wage: COP 66,667

Legal cap applied: 720 days (24 months) because the salary exceeds 1 SMLMV.

CST art. 65 as amended by Law 789 of 2002 art. 29: 1 day of salary per day of delay, 24-month cap and then default interest. Educational estimate, not advice.

You might also like

Colombia cesantías interest: COP 2,000,000 / 360 → COP 240,000

12% Law 52 / Law 50 art. 99 on cesantías already caused. Example: COP 2,000,000 × 360 × 0.12 / 360 = COP 240,000. Paid to the worker, not the fund.

Colombia retirement: woman 40 + 500 weeks → age 57

1,300 weeks + age 57/62 (Law 100 of 1993). At 40 with 500 weeks you retire at 57.

Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20 Needs, Wants & Savings

Split net income with 50/30/20 or 70/20/10. Example $10,000 → $2,000/month savings ($24,000/year).

Colombia late-payment penalty 2026

If the employer does not pay on time, it owes 1 day of salary per day of delay (CST art. 65, as amended by Law 789 of 2002 art. 29). It runs from contract termination until effective payment, with a legal cap of 24 months (720 days) for anyone earning more than 1 SMLMV; once those 24 months pass, the employer pays default interest from month 25. Paragraph 2 of art. 65 states the 24-month cap applies only to those earning more than one minimum wage: at 1 SMLMV or less the penalty runs without that cap.

With $2,000,000 and 10 days: $666,666.67.

Calculate my penalty →

Formula

Late-payment penalty

(salary / 30) × days late, capped at 720 days when the salary exceeds 1 SMLMV ($1,750,905 in 2026)

ItemValue
Monthly salary$2,000,000
Daily wage$66,666.67
Days late10
Penalty$666,666.67
Legal cap (above 1 SMLMV)720 days / 24 months
From month 25default interest

Common mistakes

  • Believing the 24-month cap does not exist or that "case law debates it": it is statutory (CST art. 65, as amended by Law 789 of 2002 art. 29).
  • Applying the 24-month cap to a salary of 1 SMLMV or less: there the penalty runs without it (paragraph 2).
  • Dividing by calendar days instead of 30.
  • Forgetting it runs until effective payment, not until the claim.

Yes: 720 days (24 months) when the salary exceeds 1 SMLMV; from month 25 default interest is paid. At 1 SMLMV or less that cap does not apply.

No. Educational estimate. Check with your lawyer.

Informational estimate

Educational content, not legal advice. CST art. 65 as amended by Law 789 of 2002 art. 29 (24-month cap and interest from month 25).