Sri Lanka defers mandatory TIN certificate requirement to April 2027 amid high demand

Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has deferred the mandatory requirement to submit a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificate for specified transactions until April 1, 2027, after people panicked and lined up to get registered.

In light of the administrative bottleneck that followed, the government has decided to push back the deadline.

The rule, which applies to individuals engaging in any of eight specified transactions, was originally scheduled to take effect from November 1, 2026, under the provisions of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026.

However, according to an official notice issued by the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue on Thursday, a significant demand for the certificates was observed not only among those requiring it for the designated transactions but also from the general public.

The IRD said it will introduce alternative and more convenient methods for already-registered individuals to obtain their physical or digital TIN certificates.

The department also strongly encouraged individuals who have not yet registered to utilize its online e-Services platform to obtain their TINs ahead of the new 2027 deadline

Source : Economy Next