UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): July 3, 2012

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

225 Franklin St.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110

(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, ZIP CODE)

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE 1-800-221-2450

NOT APPLICABLE

(FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

SECTION 4 — Matters Related to Accountants and Financial Statements

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

At its June Meeting, the Audit Committee of Tri-Continental Corporation (the Corporation) recommended, and the Corporation’s Board of Directors approved, the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PricewaterhouseCoopers) as independent auditor for the Corporation, as well as the other funds in the Columbia Family of Funds (collectively, the Funds). PricewaterhouseCoopers’ engagement is effective at the completion of Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young)’s audits of the financial statements of the Funds with fiscal years ending July 31, 2012, which is expected to be completed in September 2012. Ernst & Young completed the audit of the Corporation’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and issued its report on February 22, 2012.

Ernst & Young’s report on the Corporation’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During such fiscal periods and through the June Meeting, there were no disagreements between the Corporation and Ernst & Young on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or audit scope or procedures, which such disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with their reports on the financial statements for such fiscal periods.

The Corporation has provided Ernst & Young with a copy of the foregoing disclosures. A copy of Ernst & Young’s letter dated July 3, 2012 stating its agreement with the above statements is attached as Exhibit 16.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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