If you run a business or work as a freelancer in Sri Lanka, keeping up with IRD circulars, gazette notices, VAT rule changes and court rulings is a part-time job on its own. Miss one update and you risk a rejected VAT claim, a missed deadline, or worse — an unnecessary penalty.

That’s why GDP Consultants now publishes a weekly tax update, summarising everything that changed in Sri Lankan tax law that week — in plain language, not legal jargon.

What’s in This Week’s Update

• VAT on digital services (nonresidents) postponed again — now starting 1 July 2026
• New mandatory VAT tax invoice format in effect since 1 January 2026 (Gazette No. 2463/05) — check your invoicing system is compliant
• IRD field program actively checking business registration and compliance status across the country
• Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Act, No. 10 of 2026 — review if it changes your SSCL position
• Upcoming WHT/AIT, VAT, and final tax payment deadlines to keep on your calendar

We’ll also be covering relevant Supreme Court and Court of Appeal tax judgments as they’re published — rulings that rarely make the news but directly affect how businesses handle disputes with the IRD.

Why We Started This

Most businesses find out about a tax change only when it’s already cost them money — a rejected claim, a late filing penalty, or a registration check they weren’t ready for. Our weekly update exists so our clients (and anyone else who reads it) hear about changes before they become a problem, not after.

You can read the full, continuously updated page here: This Week in Sri Lanka Tax →

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Subscribe through our website pop-up to get notified by WhatsApp whenever a new weekly update is published — no spam, just the changes that actually matter for your business.

Need Help Applying Any of This?

Tax law is one thing — applying it correctly to your specific business is another. If any of this week’s changes affect you, or you simply want a second pair of eyes on your tax position, talk to GDP Consultants. We handle income tax, VAT, APIT, bookkeeping, audit, BPO and virtual CFO services for individuals and businesses across Sri Lanka.