Resumen
Royalties are one of the most important resources Colombian government has to propel territorial development and competitiveness. They were being paid inequitably, inefficiently and in a corrupt manner. That was why the National Government filed a constitutional amendment before the Congress, known as Legislative Act 005 of 2011. From then on, regulations that radically change royalties? distribution, the way to access them and their payment, have been issued. Due to those important changes, this paper undertakes a historical exploration of the previous regime and the new system in order to typify the Royalties General System and to analyze its fiscal effect on the sixclass municipalities in the department of Boyacá.