Insights for Sri Lankan decision makers

Tax compliance guides for Sri Lankan businesses

Registrations, returns and deadlines for VAT, SSCL, APIT, WHT and income tax, written for business owners and finance teams. Each guide cites the primary sources it relies on.

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VAT Act s.10(1)(viii) and (ix), the three turnover tests and the importer and exporter rule highlighted

Tax ComplianceJuly 2, 202612 min read

Late VAT registration in Sri Lanka: no auto step, no 18-month grace

Crossed the VAT line without applying? Why nothing registers you for you, where the 18 months really comes from, and what s.14 and s.67 mean now.

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Latest articles

Blue calculator, spreadsheet grid and bar-chart illustration for working through personal tax estimates.

Tax Compliance7 min read

How to calculate income tax in Sri Lanka: a worked example

How to estimate Sri Lanka personal income tax for Y/A 2025/26 under the five-band system with LKR 1,800,000 personal relief, with a worked example.

June 21, 2026Tax Advisory

Green tax form and calendar graphic used for the guide to the change from PAYE to APIT.

Tax Compliance8 min read

PAYE vs APIT: what changed for Sri Lankan employers

PAYE is the old name; APIT is the scheme Sri Lankan employers run today. How the threshold, bands, declarations, certificates and employer liability have changed.

June 21, 2026Tax Advisory

Sri Lanka capital gains tax guide - CGT rates, exemptions including CSE-listed shares, and the capital gains tax return

Tax Compliance9 min read

Capital gains tax in Sri Lanka: rates, exemptions, filing

Sri Lanka taxes gains on investment assets at a flat rate, separate from your other income: 15% for individuals from 3 June 2026 (10% before). Here is what is exempt and how to file the capital gains tax return.

June 20, 2026Tax Advisory

Sri Lanka lump sum and bonus APIT calculation guide - Table 02 method and worked examples

Tax Compliance8 min read

Lump sum and bonus tax in Sri Lanka: APIT Table 02 guide

Bonuses and other lump sums are taxed on APIT Table 02, not added to the month's salary. How the method works, what goes on Table 03 instead, and worked examples.

June 20, 2026Tax Advisory

Gazette Extraordinary No. 2429/39 of 27 March 2025 with item 09 highlighted: Rs 20 for every Rs 1,000 or part thereof of the aggregate lease or hire including any premium, with the twenty year proviso and hire purchase at Rs 10

Tax Compliance10 min read

Lease stamp duty: Rs 20 per Rs 1,000 of aggregate rent from 1 April 2025

Stamp duty on a lease is Rs 20 per Rs 1,000 of the aggregate rent from April 2025. Who pays, how to pay, the exemptions and worked examples.

May 7, 2026Tax Advisory

Green tax form and calendar graphic used for the guide to rental income reporting.

Tax Compliance7 min read

Rental income tax in Sri Lanka: withholding, deductions, and annual return guide

Rent above Rs 100,000 a month from a business tenant has 10% AIT deducted. How the credit works, deductible expenses, the 25% relief and the return.

April 15, 2026Tax Advisory

Green tax form and calendar graphic used for the guide to partnership and trust tax records.

Tax Compliance8 min read

Partnership and trust taxation in Sri Lanka: structure and compliance guide

Partnership and trust tax treatment can be misunderstood at setup stage. Learn classification, filing ownership, and control points for Sri Lanka.

April 11, 2026Tax Advisory

Green tax form and calendar graphic used for the guide to documenting VAT-exempt supplies.

Tax Compliance8 min read

VAT exemptions in Sri Lanka: what qualifies and how to document it

VAT exemption errors create hidden tax leakage. Learn the exempt and zero-rated difference, the July 2026 changes, and the records needed to defend treatment.

April 11, 2026Tax Advisory

Green tax form and calendar graphic used for the guide to VAT refund and credit records.

Tax Compliance8 min read

VAT refunds and SVAT in Sri Lanka: practical guide for finance teams

VAT credit positions need disciplined evidence and timing. Understand the refund workflow, carry-forward decisions, and the risk-based refund scheme that replaced SVAT.

April 11, 2026Tax Advisory

Green tax form and calendar graphic used for the guide to VAT invoice fields and issue dates.

Tax Compliance8 min read

VAT tax invoice requirements in Sri Lanka: fields, timing, and controls

From 1 October 2026 every VAT tax invoice must follow the format in Gazette 2481/22 as amended. The fields, the serial number, the 28-day rule and the controls.

April 11, 2026Tax Advisory

Green tax form and calendar graphic used for the guide to withholding statements and certificates.

Tax Compliance8 min read

WHT annual statement and certificate of deduction in Sri Lanka

WHT reporting breaks when certificates and annual statements are treated as year-end admin. Build a monthly evidence workflow that files cleanly.

April 11, 2026Tax Advisory

Tax Compliance7 min read
How to calculate income tax in Sri Lanka: a worked example
How to estimate Sri Lanka personal income tax for Y/A 2025/26 under the five-band system with LKR 1,800,000 personal relief, with a worked example.
June 21, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance8 min read
PAYE vs APIT: what changed for Sri Lankan employers
PAYE is the old name; APIT is the scheme Sri Lankan employers run today. How the threshold, bands, declarations, certificates and employer liability have changed.
June 21, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance9 min read
Capital gains tax in Sri Lanka: rates, exemptions, filing
Sri Lanka taxes gains on investment assets at a flat rate, separate from your other income: 15% for individuals from 3 June 2026 (10% before). Here is what is exempt and how to file the capital gains tax return.
June 20, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance8 min read
Lump sum and bonus tax in Sri Lanka: APIT Table 02 guide
Bonuses and other lump sums are taxed on APIT Table 02, not added to the month's salary. How the method works, what goes on Table 03 instead, and worked examples.
June 20, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance10 min read
Lease stamp duty: Rs 20 per Rs 1,000 of aggregate rent from 1 April 2025
Stamp duty on a lease is Rs 20 per Rs 1,000 of the aggregate rent from April 2025. Who pays, how to pay, the exemptions and worked examples.
May 7, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance7 min read
Rental income tax in Sri Lanka: withholding, deductions, and annual return guide
Rent above Rs 100,000 a month from a business tenant has 10% AIT deducted. How the credit works, deductible expenses, the 25% relief and the return.
April 15, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance8 min read
Partnership and trust taxation in Sri Lanka: structure and compliance guide
Partnership and trust tax treatment can be misunderstood at setup stage. Learn classification, filing ownership, and control points for Sri Lanka.
April 11, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance8 min read
VAT exemptions in Sri Lanka: what qualifies and how to document it
VAT exemption errors create hidden tax leakage. Learn the exempt and zero-rated difference, the July 2026 changes, and the records needed to defend treatment.
April 11, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance8 min read
VAT refunds and SVAT in Sri Lanka: practical guide for finance teams
VAT credit positions need disciplined evidence and timing. Understand the refund workflow, carry-forward decisions, and the risk-based refund scheme that replaced SVAT.
April 11, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance8 min read
VAT tax invoice requirements in Sri Lanka: fields, timing, and controls
From 1 October 2026 every VAT tax invoice must follow the format in Gazette 2481/22 as amended. The fields, the serial number, the 28-day rule and the controls.
April 11, 2026Tax Advisory
Tax Compliance8 min read
WHT annual statement and certificate of deduction in Sri Lanka
WHT reporting breaks when certificates and annual statements are treated as year-end admin. Build a monthly evidence workflow that files cleanly.
April 11, 2026Tax Advisory

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Meet the advisory team behind every article

Chartered professionals who translate regulations into practical guidance for Sri Lankan organisations.

Kavindu Perera

Head of Accounting & Compliance

ICASL-qualified specialist in statutory accounting, RAMIS filings, and IFRS reporting for Sri Lankan businesses.

Dilrukshi Jayawardena

Head of Payroll & Labour Compliance

CIMA-certified payroll specialist focused on EPF/ETF governance, APIT workflows, and labour-compliance operations.

Thilina Rodrigo

Head of BPO & Virtual CFO Services

Leads BPO pod strategy, cash-flow modelling, and board-level reporting for growth-stage and regional teams.