Colombo | April 24, 2025 — The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has called on individuals who have not yet obtained their Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) to refrain from visiting IRD offices in person. Instead, the department is encouraging the use of newly introduced channels via banks and financial institutions to streamline the process and ease the mounting pressure on its branches.
According to IRD Deputy Commissioner General B. K. S. Shantha, the department has recently witnessed a surge in visits from the public, especially those seeking tax relief — including on withholding tax (WHT) deducted by banks and financial institutions — which requires a TIN. However, he emphasized that such physical visits are unnecessary, as alternative procedures are already in place.
Speaking at a press briefing on April 23, Shantha clarified that financial institutions are now authorized to act as intermediaries, collecting relevant taxpayer details and facilitating the issuance of TINs on behalf of the IRD. “Even if an individual doesn’t have a TIN yet, banks have been directed to document key details — such as name, address, and email — and proceed based on the individual’s claim that their annual taxable income is below Rs. 1.8 million,” Shantha said. These details will then be forwarded to the IRD, which will issue the TIN in the following month.
He also reiterated that obtaining a TIN is a legal obligation for all Sri Lankans aged 18 and above, as outlined in a gazette notification issued in May 2023. Despite this, voluntary compliance remains low. In response, the IRD has proactively identified eligible individuals and opened tax files for them.
To date, over 10 million TINs have been issued, although many recipients remain unaware they have been assigned one, Shantha added.
This move is part of the IRD’s broader effort to modernize Sri Lanka’s tax administration and reduce unnecessary congestion in its offices, especially as digital integration becomes a cornerstone of financial governance.