Loading...
Blog
Tax Education for the Modern Sri Lankan
Practical guides, compliance tips, and insights to help you navigate Sri Lankan tax law with confidence.
compliance
How to Amend a Filed Tax Return in Sri Lanka
Filed a return with a mistake? Section 136 lets you apply to amend it within 12 months of filing. What the application must say, and the IRD's 90-day clock.
Taxable Team14 min read
compliance
How to Appeal a Tax Assessment in Sri Lanka
Disagree with your IRD assessment? Here's the 30-day administrative review, the Tax Appeals Commission route, and why the tax stays payable meanwhile.
Taxable Team15 min read
guides
Employee to Freelancer Mid-Year: How to File in Sri Lanka
Left a salaried job to freelance mid-year in Sri Lanka? Your old APIT becomes a tax credit, both phases go on one return, and instalments use last year's tax.
Taxable Team12 min read
compliance
How to Pay Income Tax to the IRD in Sri Lanka
Know your number but never made an IRD payment? Here's how Sri Lankan law decides whether your payment counts: the right tax type, period, proof, and deadlines.
Taxable Team14 min read
guides
Double Taxation in Sri Lanka: Do You Pay Tax Twice?
Already paid tax abroad? Sri Lanka taxes residents on foreign income, but a Section 80 foreign tax credit stops you paying in full twice. Here's how it works.
Taxable Team12 min read
compliance
IRD Circular on 2026/2027 Quarterly Tax Instalments
The IRD revised its quarterly instalment circular three times in nine days. Here's which version governs your August 15 payment and what you actually have to do.
Taxable Team10 min read
investment
Who Declares Rental Income on Joint Property in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka taxes each co-owner separately on their share of rental income under Section 29. How to split the rent, the 25% relief, and a future sale.
Taxable Team12 min read
guides
Online Seller Tax in Sri Lanka: What You Actually Owe
Selling on Daraz, Etsy or Instagram in Sri Lanka? Learn how your store income is taxed, which selling costs you can deduct, and when quarterly payments start.
Taxable Team13 min read
guides
PickMe and Uber Driver Tax in Sri Lanka: Full Guide
PickMe and Uber earnings are business income and nobody withholds tax for you. How Sri Lankan drivers deduct fuel, claim vehicle costs, and pay quarterly.
Taxable Team16 min read
guides
Side Hustle Tax in Sri Lanka: Salary Plus Side Income
Got a salary and a side hustle in Sri Lanka? Both go into one tax calculation with one Rs. 1.8M relief. Here's how your APIT credit and instalments work.
Taxable Team13 min read
compliance
Tax Record Keeping in Sri Lanka: What to Keep, How Long
Sri Lankan law requires you to keep tax records for five years from each transaction, and longer in some cases. What to keep, how long, and the penalty.
Taxable Team15 min read
investment
Is Cryptocurrency Taxed in Sri Lanka?
Yes, crypto gains are taxable in Sri Lanka. Learn the 15% capital gains rate, which transactions trigger tax, the Rs. 50,000 exemption, and how to report crypto.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Declaring Assets and Liabilities on Sri Lankan Tax Returns
Do you have to declare assets and liabilities on a Sri Lankan tax return? Who must disclose, what counts, and how the IRD uses it to check your net worth.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
How to Claim a Tax Refund from the IRD in Sri Lanka
Overpaid your Sri Lankan taxes through APIT, bank WHT, or quarterly instalments? Here is exactly how to claim your IRD refund, the deadlines, and how long it takes.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Is Gratuity Taxed in Sri Lanka? EPF, ETF & Job Exit
EPF is tax-free and your first Rs. 10 million of gratuity, ETF and retirement payouts is taxed at 0% in Sri Lanka. Here is how terminal benefits are taxed.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Married Couple Income Tax in Sri Lanka: Joint or Separate?
Married couples in Sri Lanka are taxed separately, not jointly. Each spouse gets their own Rs. 1,800,000 personal relief and their own tax slabs. Here is how it works.
Taxable Team8 min read
freelance
Can Freelancers Deduct Vehicle and Fuel Costs in Sri Lanka?
You can deduct your car's fuel, servicing, and insurance by business-use share, but not the car itself. How vehicle tax deductions work for Sri Lankan freelancers.
Taxable Team8 min read
freelance
How Is YouTube and AdSense Income Taxed in Sri Lanka?
YouTube and AdSense income in Sri Lanka is foreign-source income, taxable since April 2025 at a capped 15% rate. Here's how it works, with a worked example.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Personal Relief in Sri Lanka: Local and Foreign Income
Earn both local and foreign income in Sri Lanka? Here is how the Rs. 1,800,000 personal relief is applied across streams and why the split changes your tax.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Income Tax Threshold in Sri Lanka: When Do You Pay?
At what income do you start paying tax in Sri Lanka? The tax-free threshold is Rs. 1,800,000 for 2026/2027. Here is what counts and what is taxed anyway.
Taxable Team8 min read
freelance
Foreign Income Tax in Sri Lanka: Gross or Net?
Do Sri Lankan freelancers pay foreign income tax on the gross invoice or the net amount after platform and bank fees? Here is the rule, and the catch.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Register and File Your First Tax Return in Sri Lanka
A step-by-step guide for first-time taxpayers in Sri Lanka: register for a TIN, pay quarterly instalments, and file your annual return by November 30.
Taxable Team9 min read
guides
Can You Carry Forward Tax Reliefs in Sri Lanka?
Can unused tax reliefs and donations carry forward in Sri Lanka? Most do not. Here are the three that do, and how to avoid losing solar relief over the cap.
Taxable Team8 min read
investment
Selling Your Main Home in Sri Lanka: Capital Gains Tax
Is selling your main home in Sri Lanka exempt from capital gains tax? Here are the principal residence exemption conditions and what you pay if you don't qualify.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
How to Pay Income Tax With No Employer in Sri Lanka
No employer deducting your tax in Sri Lanka? You must pay income tax yourself, monthly. Here's why you're liable, the 15th-of-month deadlines, and what to set aside.
Taxable Team8 min read
freelance
Do Sri Lankan Freelancers Pay 15% or 36% Tax?
Sri Lankan freelancers pay a capped 15% on foreign income if they meet three conditions, or standard rates up to 36% if they don't. Here's what decides it.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Effective Tax Rate vs Tax Slab in Sri Lanka
Worried you'll pay your top tax slab on all your income? In Sri Lanka your effective tax rate is far lower. See how marginal and average rates differ, with examples.
Taxable Team7 min read
compliance
When to Pay Capital Gains Tax in Sri Lanka
Capital gains tax in Sri Lanka is due within 30 days after the end of the month you sell. Learn the exact deadline, what to file, and the late-payment penalty.
Taxable Team7 min read
guides
Which Exchange Rate for Foreign Income Tax in Sri Lanka?
Convert foreign income to LKR using the official CBSL rate. Freelancers use the invoice date, employees the receipt date. Convert the gross, deduct fees separately.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Documents for Your Tax Agent in Sri Lanka: A Checklist
The complete checklist of documents and figures your Sri Lankan tax agent needs to file your income tax return, from income by source to APIT and WHT credits.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Can You Deduct Cash Business Expenses in Sri Lanka?
Pay a business expense of Rs. 500,000 or more in untraceable cash and you lose the whole deduction under Section 10(2A). Here's the rule and how to stay deductible.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Are Charitable Donations Tax Deductible in Sri Lanka?
Charity donations are deductible up to Rs. 75,000, with any excess lost. Donations to the government are uncapped and can be carried forward. Here's the full rule.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
5% Withholding Tax on Professional Fees in Sri Lanka
Doctors, lawyers and IT consultants see 5% withheld on fees over Rs. 100,000 a month. Here's why under Section 85(1C), and how to claim it back as a credit.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Statement of Estimated Tax in Sri Lanka: What Changed
What a Statement of Estimated Tax (SET) is, who filed one, and why the formal SET was abolished from 2026/2027, plus how freelancers estimate their tax now.
Taxable Team9 min read
investment
Do Senior Citizens Pay Tax on Interest in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lankan senior citizens aged 60+ get Rs. 1,500,000 of bank interest tax-free each year. Here is who qualifies, how to claim it, and the rate on the excess.
Taxable Team8 min read
investment
How Is Investment Income Taxed in Sri Lanka?
Dividends face a final 15%, bank interest a final 10%, and capital gains 15% on a separate stream in Sri Lanka. Here is how each is taxed for individuals.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Estimate Quarterly Tax on Irregular Freelance Income
How freelancers with lumpy income estimate each quarterly tax instalment in Sri Lanka, with a worked LKR example and the rule for revising mid-year.
Taxable Team9 min read
guides
How Are Capital Allowances Calculated in Sri Lanka?
Business equipment is written off over its useful life as a capital allowance, not expensed in year one. Here is how the straight-line method works in Sri Lanka.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Are You a Tax Resident of Sri Lanka? How to Tell
Find out if you are a tax resident of Sri Lanka using the 183-day test, and why residency decides which income is taxed and which reliefs you can claim.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Missed Quarterly Tax Payments in Sri Lanka? Catch Up
Haven't paid your quarterly tax in Sri Lanka this year? Here's how the Section 90 catch-up works, the exact cost of waiting, and how to fix it before year-end.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Can You Claim Health or Education Tax Relief in Sri Lanka?
Health, education, and housing loan interest tax reliefs in Sri Lanka ended in 2022. Here are the personal reliefs and deductions individuals can actually claim.
Taxable Team7 min read
compliance
Sri Lanka Tax Penalties 2026: New IRA Amendment Guide
The 2026 Inland Revenue Act amendment introduces criminal prosecution for non-filers, fines up to Rs. 400,000, and new safe harbours. Plain-English guide.
Taxable Team6 min read
guides
Primary vs Secondary Employment Tax in Sri Lanka
If you have two jobs in Sri Lanka, only your primary employer applies the Rs. 1.8M personal relief. Here's how primary vs secondary APIT actually works.
Taxable Team7 min read
guides
APIT for Sri Lankan Employees: A Beginner's Guide
APIT is the monthly tax your Sri Lankan employer deducts from your salary. Here's how the math works, what your T10 means, and what you owe at year end.
Taxable Team6 min read
freelance
Home Office Expenses: A Sri Lankan Freelancer's Guide
When your home is your office, you can only deduct the business share of internet and electricity. Here's how Sri Lankan freelancers calculate the split.
Taxable Team6 min read
guides
Final vs Creditable Withholding Tax in Sri Lanka
Dividends are final. Interest, rent, and APIT are creditable. Here's the YoA 2025/2026 rulebook on which Sri Lankan WHT lands on your return and which doesn't.
Taxable Team7 min read
guides
Selling Property in Sri Lanka: Capital Gains Tax Guide
Selling investment property in Sri Lanka triggers a 15% capital gains tax, due within 30 days of the month-end. Learn how to calculate your gain and what changed in 2026.
Taxable Team7 min read
freelance
What Expenses Can a Sri Lankan Freelancer Deduct?
What can Sri Lankan freelancers deduct from their taxable income? A plain-language guide to business expenses, equipment write-offs, and home-office costs.
Taxable Team7 min read
compliance
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in Sri Lanka: A Beginner's Guide
From April 2026, you'll need a TIN to open a bank account, get a credit card, or register a vehicle in Sri Lanka. Here's what a TIN is and how to get one.
Taxable Team7 min read
guides
Rent Relief in Sri Lanka: How Landlords Claim the 25% Deduction
Sri Lankan landlords can deduct 25% of rental income under Section 52 of the IRA. Here's who qualifies, what documents to keep, and a worked example.
Taxable Team8 min read
guides
Solar Tax Relief in Sri Lanka: Up to Rs. 600,000 a Year
Sri Lanka's solar tax relief lets you claim up to Rs. 600,000 each year on on-grid solar installations. Here's who qualifies and how to claim it.
Taxable Team8 min read
compliance
Why May 15, 2026 Matters for Sri Lankan Taxpayers
May 15, 2026 is the final quarterly tax instalment deadline for YoA 2025/2026 in Sri Lanka. Here's who owes, how much, and how to avoid penalties.
Taxable Team6 min read
compliance
SSCL Amendment 2026: Lower Threshold, New Exemptions
Sri Lanka's 2026 SSCL amendment lowers the registration threshold to LKR 9M per quarter and reshapes motor vehicle exemptions. Here's what changes from July 1.
Taxable Team10 min read
compliance
Quarterly Tax Payments in Sri Lanka: Your 2026/2027 Guide
Quarterly tax payments in Sri Lanka changed for 2026/2027. The new prior-year basis, four due dates, how credits reduce each instalment, and late-payment costs.
Taxable Team10 min read
guides
How to Calculate Your Income Tax in Sri Lanka
A step-by-step guide to calculating Sri Lankan income tax for 2025/2026, with real numbers, correct tax slabs, and a worked example you can follow.
Taxable Team10 min read
guides
Best Tax Software for Sri Lankans in 2026: What to Look For
Compare your options for managing Sri Lankan income tax: spreadsheets, tax consultants, and purpose-built platforms. A practical guide for individual taxpayers.
Taxable Team9 min read
guides
Working Remotely for a Foreign Company? Here's How Sri Lanka Taxes Your Salary in 2026.
A plain-English guide to Foreign Employment Income tax for Sri Lankan residents employed by overseas companies. Tax rates, monthly payments, and how to stay compliant.
Taxable Team10 min read
freelance
You Were Tax-Free. Now You're Not. Here's What Sri Lankan Freelancers Need to Know for 2026.
Everything freelancers and contractors earning foreign income need to know about Sri Lanka's new 15% tax rate, quarterly payments, and deductions from April 2025.
Taxable Team12 min read