How is foreign freelance income taxed in Sri Lanka?

Service income paid in foreign currency and remitted through a Sri Lankan bank is taxed at a maximum rate of 15% (from 1 April 2025) — applied as a cap against the progressive computation, not a flat add-on.

Do freelancers still get a full exemption?

No. The blanket exemption transitioned to a 15% concessionary cap, conditional on payment in foreign currency remitted through a bank.

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Foreign Income & DTA Tax Calculator Sri Lanka

Convert foreign-currency receipts at CBSL rates and apply the right tax credit under the Sri Lanka–UK / US / Singapore DTAs.

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Reflects Year of Assessment 2025/2026 · Last updated 2026-06-13 · Reviewed by TaxWise · Source: Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 02 of 2025, Inland Revenue Department

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Foreign income & tax credit

Convert foreign receipts at your FX rate. Credit capped at Sri Lankan tax on the same income (simplified §80).

UK–Sri Lanka DTA may limit withholding in the source state; credit in Sri Lanka is capped at tax on the same income.

Foreign income (foreign currency)Rs. 10,000

Rs. 0Rs. 500,000

FX rate (LKR per unit)

Foreign tax already paid (LKR)Rs. 50,000

Rs. 0Rs. 2,000,000

Other assessable income (LKR)Rs. 3,600,000

For proportional SL tax on foreign slice.

Rs. 0Rs. 15,000,000

Result

Rs.571,176

Net SL tax on foreign slice after credit

Foreign income (LKR)Rs. 3,200,000

SL tax on sliceRs. 621,176

Foreign tax creditRs. 50,000

Estimator only

Simplified credit cap. No treaty forms or per-source proration.

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Full DTA treaty rates and per-source proration require a filed return. CBSL rates not fetched live.

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Foreign tax credit with source documentation

DTA relief, FX conversion, and §80 credit caps applied per source — not a single blended slice.

Foreign income by currency with CBSL or declared FX rate
Schedule 9 foreign tax credit capped per IRD rules
DTA notes and certificates stored against each entry

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Filing opens Apr 2026 · Y/A 2025/2026 return due 30 November 2026

Frequently asked questions

How is foreign freelance income taxed in Sri Lanka?: Service income paid in foreign currency and remitted through a Sri Lankan bank is taxed at a maximum rate of 15% (from 1 April 2025) — applied as a cap against the progressive computation, not a flat add-on.
Do freelancers still get a full exemption?: No. The blanket exemption transitioned to a 15% concessionary cap, conditional on payment in foreign currency remitted through a bank.

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Income tax (IIT)

Estimate your annual liability across salary, freelance, interest and investment income — with 2025/2026 reliefs applied.

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Sub-contractor 5%, rent 10%, interest 10% AIT, services 5%. Pick the payment type, get the rate and the form.

Estimator disclaimer

Results follow the Inland Revenue Act and the 2025 Amendment for Y/A 2025/2026 but are not tax advice. Rounding, missing inputs, and simplified assumptions can change the final figure; only a filed return counts with IRD.