Sri Lanka's new VAT invoice format, initially set for January 2026, will now take effect from 1 April 2026, requiring all registered businesses to adopt standardised templates with specific data fields and maintain records for at least five years.
Sri Lanka has rolled out a new standardised format for tax invoices as part of its ongoing Value Added Tax (VAT) modernisation efforts, with the changes now set to take effect from 1 April 2026.
The new invoice requirements were officially announced through Gazette Notification No. 2463/05, published on 17 November 2025. While the reforms were originally planned to launch on 1 January 2026, authorities have pushed back the implementation date by three months to allow businesses additional preparation time.
Under directives from the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue, all VAT-registered businesses must adopt the specified invoice template. The new format mandates several critical elements, including Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) for both the supplier and buyer, a standardised serial number system, and detailed breakdowns of taxable amounts.
Businesses must maintain strict documentation standards, preserving both original and duplicate copies of all tax invoices for a minimum of five years. The official gazette also provides a visual template along with comprehensive instructions on proper layout and labelling requirements.
