Under the provisions of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act of 2026, a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificate will become mandatory for several key services and transactions in Sri Lanka from April 1, 2026.
The new regulation empowers the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue to issue TIN certificates to any individual or entity assigned a TIN, thereby formalising the tax registration process for essential financial and administrative activities.
According to the Act, the following transactions cannot be completed without presenting a valid TIN certificate to the relevant authorities:
Financial transactions: Opening an account at a financial institution or obtaining a credit card.
Property and development: Registering land or land ownership and securing official approval for building plans.
Motor vehicles: Registering a motor vehicle and renewing a motor vehicle licence.
Business and corporate activities: Registering a business and transferring shares in a company incorporated in Sri Lanka, with both the transferor and transferee required to provide a TIN certificate.
The gazetted Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act of 2026 further mandates that designated officials — including bank managers, registrars, and provincial or divisional secretaries — must verify the TIN certificate before providing these services.
