On 18 May 2020, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Sri Lanka issued a public notice declaring further extension for the submission of returns up to 15 July 2020 except Transfer pricing disclosure form. However previous notice issued under PN/Tax Returns/2020 01 on 21 April 2020 that has announced returns submission deadline until 31 May 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

The revised deadline of following tax returns has extended up to 15 July 2020:

  • Annual declaration of employer (PAYE tax return) – year of assessment 2019/2020.
  • Annual statement of withholding tax (WHT) – year of assessment 2019/2020.
  • Economic service charge (ESC) return – year of assessment 2019/2020.
  • Compounded stamp duty return for the quarter ending 31 March 2020.
  • Value added tax (VAT) on financial services, interim estimate for last 6 months of the Year of Assessment 2019/2020 (financial institutions which submit returns on year of assessment basis).
  • Value added tax (VAT) returns for the months of February, March, April and quarter ending 31 March 2020.

However, e-Filing facility is available through the e-Services in IRD Web Portal for taxpayers who wish to submit VAT, ESC, PAYE returns and withholding Schedules for above periods.

The Taxpayers, who submit the Returns manually, are strictly advised not to submit the Returns by downloading the specimens of the Tax Returns from the IRD Web Portal unless specifically advised by the Commissioner-General.